BHS students urged to pursue excellence as lifelong goal
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
~~Adz:Right~~BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRESENT and outgoing students of the Basseterre High School (BHS) were urged to not just make the pursuit of excellence their current goal, but to adopt it as a life-long aspiration.
The words of advice came from the Minister of Education, the Hon. Sam Condor, when he addressed students at the institution’s recently held Speech Day ceremony during which students who were successful at both overseas and local examinations were awarded.
The adopted theme for the event was “Excellence – A Lifelong Goal”, and Minister Condor used the occasion to impress upon the students the value of making excellence a constant ambition; one after which, more often than not, is followed by success.
Quoting words from the Director and Founder of the Pure Excellence Initiative, Jim Key, Condor explained that excellence is achieved when persons resolve to lay mediocrity aside and set higher aspirations.
“‘Excellence is something that you realise and experience when you surpass mere adequacy and you press beyond mediocrity. We all know persons in our community who hold excellence as a standard which they have made their life-long goal. Excellence is found among doctors, lawyers, politicians, sportsmen as well as among cooks, drain cleaners, mechanics, farmers, and the list goes on and on.”
The Education Minister further expressed that excellence is not partial to those “outstanding achievers in any area of endeavour”, but also encompasses those who “abhor what is mediocre or average or just fair and settle for nothing less than their personal best…those who continuously strive for a level of achievement higher than their previous goals”.
The students were encouraged to build on educational successes already attained as they strive for excellence in and towards future success.
“Having reached this far, I am sure that this present batch of students understands what it means to reach for and attain high standards. As you savour the joys of attaining excellence in school, I urge to make the pursuit of excellence your life-long goal. The journey has just begun. Build on your achievement thus far. Become lifelong learners. Always aim for the sky. The future economic growth and development of our beloved Federation depends on your ability to raise the stakes so that you can compete in a rapidly changing technological and global society. Remember your competitors will not only be your peers. You will be required to rub shoulders with workers across the CARICOM region and around the world.”
The lifelong adaptation and achievement of excellence on a personal level were also a focal point of the Minister’s address to the students. He said the importance of this is equal to that of educational excellence.
“Human beings admire those who can reach heights where no man has or woman has gone before. Our history is replete with examples of the sense of pride engendered in our society when its citizens excel. When excellence becomes your lifelong goal you will stand straighter, walk taller and achieve a great measure of satisfaction in your achievements. You will respect yourself and others will respect you because in everybody’s eyes you have become a hero or heroine, a role model to whom everyone can look up.”
In echoing sentiments expressed by ancient philosopher Aristotle, who said, “Excellence (becomes) not an act, but a habit. It is an art won by training and habitation,” Condor told the students “we are what we habitually do…there is no desire to be excellent one day and mediocre the next”.
“I leave you with these words from Vincent Lombardi, ‘The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence regardless of their chosen field of endeavour.’ I urge all of us to make the pursuit of excellence our life -long goal.”
