BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH the youths of St. Kitts and Nevis often coming in for criticisms, National Hero and the Federation’s first Prime Minister, Sir Kennedy Simmons wants the young people to take education seriously.
Dr. Simmons, who was one of the five men recognized yesterday (Sept. 16) at the National Heroes celebration, offered words of encouragement to the nation’s youth while reflecting on his own life.
“…doing well in school is an important first step in your journey to personal success. When you achieve success remember to build a better life for your parents and guardians who sacrificed much and deprived themselves so that you can make it. Learning in school, striving to be the best you can be is the foundation on which you can build the rest of your life,” Dr. Simmons said.
In giving advice to the youths, Dr. Simmons recommended daily exercise, frequent revision and paying attention in school.
“Every day, pay careful attention to the teacher in class, and try to understand what you are being taught. If you do not understand, say so. Assuming that you are going straight home from school, when you get there do not open a school book at that time. Go outside and play. Go jogging, practice football, cricket, basketball or netball, or tennis. This applies to boys and girls. Devote 1-1½ hours to exercise. This is not book advice - this is how I lived every school day. You can do it too. The habit of exercise is essential for your health now and for the rest of your life.
“Later that evening, every day without fail, go over what you learnt that day. It might be easy and straightforward, but if you have to, wrestle with it like a dog with a bone and don’t give up until you know and understand what you were taught that day. In addition, be sure to complete any homework assignment before you go to bed. You notice something - no time for Xbox or TV yet. That’s the point! You have to get your priorities in order.”
According to the only living National Hero, the young people of today face greater challenges and distractions than what those in his generation dealt with.
Pointing out that the country appears to be responding to the likes of the epidemic of crime and violence, which is plaguing the region and the world, Dr. Simmons stressed that some people say that the young people are responding to peer pressure.
He however advised the younger generation “not to react or respond to a peer pressure that drags you into the morass of crime and violence, but to yourselves create peer pressure; a peer pressure that has respect for God and your peers, a peer pressure that works to ensure that our land of beauty where peace abounds returns to and remains in that beautiful and peaceful state. The good news is that it is happening slowly but surely...”
He emphasized that the good thing about education is that it is a “great equalizer”, adding, “Whether your parents have money or are poor, you have equal access to education. The poor man’s child or the rich man’s child can rise to the top of the class.”
The National Heroes Ceremony formed part of the country’s 34thIndependence Celebrations.
