God has a plan for you – Pastor George tells ESHS graduates [Photoslide Included]
Pastor George, the keynote speaker at the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) graduation held yesterday June 28, 2012 at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex, gave a passionate speech to the graduates and told them “God has a plan for you”.
“You were no mistake; don’t ever believe for once that your life here on earth is a mistake. Maybe somebody took a chance but God doesn’t take chances. God is God that always has a plan. I want you to know that today,” he said.
The 198 graduates listened attentively as the former Bregado Flax Educational Centre student acknowledged the scepticism many may feel about making a difference. “Let me remind you, you aren’t another number, you aren’t another name. You are indeed special, literally special and you are handpicked by God.”
Pastor George admitted that one point in his life he had made the decision to become one of the biggest drug lords. According to him, a guy had come to the school with marijuana seeds who gave them out and he and his friends planted them.
When he was caught, the keynote speaker recalled his mother confronted him and his brothers with tear stained eyes because “everything she had worked for was coming to naught.”
“I confessed...and while I pulled them out and I told myself I had to make something of my life because the Devil would have made something out of me. I got focused, and I am standing here today by the grace of God.”
He also disclosed that he took up barbering, which helped him pay for flight school.
VI needs the class of 2012
The Territory’s Education Minister, Hon. Myron Walwyn sees the class of 2012 as “a sea of possibilities and entrepreneurs.”
“It is for this reason that our community needs you to be adequately prepared to manage those responsibilities. Your high school certificate, for which you are being recognised today, will open doors for you, but it will not open all doors. Your challenge now is to embark on additional skills and foster your talents so you can realise your dreams and aspirations. The future of the VI depends on what you chose to do with your lives after today,” he posited.
Hon. Walwyn also urged the new batch of graduates that they need to have their A game at all times and for them to be innovators, problem solvers and become assets to their organisations.
“We need you to explore the industries [tourism, financial and technical] to keep our country viable in this globalised world, where being born here only gets you so far and no further,” he charged.
CXC to be introduced in 2013
“To help our students become more globally competitive, to improve the quality of secondary education in the Territory, and to forge continuous training of our teachers, from September 2013, all students graduating the ESHS will have to sit the Caribbean Examination Council Exams (CXC) along with their High School certificates,” the Education Minister announced.
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He proudly stated that this will illustrate that the VI has students that can hold their own and can perform at top levels with their peers anywhere in the Caribbean and worldwide.
In light of this, a number of things will have to change that will affect the traditional education and administrative system in the secondary schools, Hon Walwyn disclosed. According to him, he met with the educators and revealed that the “necessary changes will begin during the upcoming school year.”
Premier congratulates students
In his congratulatory speech to the young men and women, Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith informed them that as the future custodians of the VI, they have the added responsibility of making sure “you hand over the Territory to the next generation in as good or better shape than you received it.”
“The services you work on developing in your youth; and the institutions that you strengthen in the course of your careers; are the same that you will have to depend on when you have retired from active service. In doing your part, know that you are standing on the shoulders of giants who made their contribution and have improved the general fabric of our lives. For example, H. Lavity Stoutt, who was the first Chief Minister of the BVI and who envisioned higher education for all its people. Also, Adina Donovan, a former Chief Nursing Officer who was instrumental in shaping nursing in the Territory, and others,” he stated.
He went on to congratulate the five young men from the institution who attained a spot on the Territory’s top 10 students' list: Klaudius Maynard, Jason Williams Jr., J’Verne Findlay, Devern Robin, and Ricky Singh.
“We are all immensely proud of you,” he said with a wide smile.
Meanwhile, the school’s principal Melissa Amey charged her students to take their places in society, and cautioned them not to prepare themselves for anyone else.
“Society needs us all. There is a place for each of us on the stage of life. Learn your line and play them well...Go slowly and enjoy,” she added.
A moment of silence was held for two students who would have graduated, but died due to tragic circumstances.
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