St. Pauls Primary School Graduation Ceremony feature address
by Mutryce A. Williams BBA CTM
Each of us is born into this world equipped and destined for Greatness.
Each of us is born into this world to create positive change.
Each of us is born into this world to create our own legacy.
Madam Chairperson Ms. Shamara Morton, Father Derek Sawyer, Mr. Oaklyn Peets Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister, Ms. Evangeline Henry, Ms. Adina Connor, Principal of the St. Pauls Primary School, Parents, Teachers, Students, invited guests, well-wishers and the St. Pauls Primary School Graduating Class of 2004, Good Evening!
The Oxford dictionary defines legacy as something that is handed down or an inheritance.
On September 16th 1916, the St. Paulian legacy begun with the birth of Premier Robert L. Bradshaw. On January 14th 1953, our legacy, as a prominent people continued with the birth of our nations leader, the Honorable Dr. Denzil L. Douglas. If you look around our society it is easy to find other St. Paulians who have and are continuing to make their mark. They have embraced their birthright. They are determined in carrying on the mantle. They are creating their own legacy. St. Pauls Primary School graduating class of 2004, in the years 1991-1992 your legacy begun. As you enter into a new era of your life, I ask that you search within yourselves and create your own legacy.
Let your legacy be one of scholarship
Let your legacy be one of leadership
Let your legacy be one of service
And in doing this you would have truly fulfilled your purpose on earth.
LET YOUR LEGACY BE ONE OF SCHOLARSHIP.
Always have a zest for educating yourselves. You can be an academic, technical, musical, or an arts scholar. Take advantage of all the educational opportunities that are afforded you. A sound education is your key to success. Many of you have dreams. These dreams would not materialize unless you educate yourselves. These dreams would not become a reality unless you start working NOW. Our legacy was not built based on chance, coincidence or luck or as someone said because our two leaders happened to have the same middle name. They lived a legacy of scholarship.
Class of 2004, you are embarking upon a journey that would transform your lives forever. You are going onto Secondary school. There are going to be many distractions, however devote yourselves to a legacy of scholarship. Your progress and success at this new level is critical. School should be your number one priority. Secondary school, like primary school would be filled with lots of fun and memories however it would be much more challenging. You have to approach these coming years with a completely different attitude; preparation for your careers begins now. Preparation for life begins now. It is time for you to brace yourselves and buckle down. You hold your future in your hands; again, you hold your future in your hands. Who or what you become depends on you. It is your job to focus diligently on your studies. Manage your time well. You owe it to yourselves, you owe it to your parents, and you owe it to your legacy.
LET YOUR LEGACY BE ONE OF LEADERSHIP.
I have never heard the phrase, he or she is a natural born follower . People have been described as natural born leaders; each one of you has what it takes to be a leader. Each one of you has potential. It doesnt matter who you are or from whence you came, anything is possible. Our legacy has proven that. Each of you has within your chest a heart. Be passionate! Assert yourselves! LEAD. Dont be followers. Dont waste your lives! LEAD. Be different! Have aspirations! LEAD. Have dreams! Believe in yourselves! LEAD! Dont settle for being ordinary! Be Extraordinary! LEAD. Be an agent of change! Be remarkable! Be memorable! LEAD! Dont take the path of least resistance. LEAD! Let your legacy be one of leadership!
Our country was built on the back of a St. Paulian. Our country is lead by a St. Paulian. As a village, 14 miles from our nations capital, we are often referred to as that place behind Gods back or Back-A-De Land. Graduating class of 2004, to these remarks smile, hold your heads high and walk with an extra spring in your step. Say to those who tease you, I do apologize but as a proud St. Paulian, I can assure you that our legacy would continue for we are a legacy of leaders. Our legacy is evidence that anything is possible. Our legacy is evidence that one can be anything that he or she wants to be. One can accomplish anything that he or she wants to accomplish. As St. Paulians we are not captives of our circumstances. We rise above them. We are leaders.
LET YOU LEGACY BE ONE OF SERVICE
You were born to transform the world and leave it a better place for your being here. You were born to make your mark. You were born to give service. You were not brought here for the purpose of destruction. You were not brought here to wreak havoc on others. You were not brought here as an ornament. You are not an idle passerby. You are not parasites. You have a purpose. You are instruments. Use your lives and your talents to benefit others. Do not be selfish or self-centered. Do not live in a cocoon. Let there be meaning to your life. Develop a passion. Get involved. Volunteer your time to worthy causes. Always remember that the measure of any man isnt what he has accomplished for himself but how much of him was given to the world.
Parents, you play an integral role in your childrens lives. They are your gifts. Nothing is wrong with having dreams and aspirations for them but find out what their dreams are and help them to achieve them. Your children are young. Their minds are fertile, this is the time for you to assist in planting the seeds, water them, nurture them, prune them, bend them and like any good crop they will grow.
It was Henry B. Adams who said, A teacher affects eternity, he can never tell where his influence stops I hold in my hand a (17) seventeen year old document, it is my St. Pauls Primary School 3rd grade report card, over the years I have looked at the words written on my report by my third grade teacher Ms. Jacqueline Douglas and to this day those words have been an inspiration. She believed in me. She thought that I had potential. Teachers you are not only educators. You are motivators. You are molding lives. Teachers you never know where your influence stops.
Graduating class of 2004, I have become acquainted with each and every one of you. It is indeed a pleasure for me to be sharing in this moment. You are all tremendous people. Each of you has left a positive impression on me. I am confident that you have the potential to overcome any obstacle that you may face. I believe in each and every one of you. I will not label any of you a doctor, lawyer, carpenter, prime minister, sanitary engineer or otherwise, who and what you become depends on you, the work starts now. Strive for greatness. Strive for excellence. Be Extraordinary. Never settle for anything less than the best. Do not give up. Have hope. Within each of you lies a flame, for some at this time it may be a flicker, add some oil and it would burn bright. You are still quite young, impressionable and innocent, I beg of you, especially my charming young men do not; do not waste your youth. Do not waste your lives. This is the time for you to have your dreams, nothing is impossible you can be what you want to be, and you can achieve anything that you want to achieve. Many a great man has walked before you. The legacy is yours.
Each of us is born into this world equipped and destined for Greatness.
Each of us is born into this world to create positive change.
Each of us is born into this world to create our own legacy.
St. Pauls Primary School Graduating class of 2004,
Let your legacy be one of scholarship
Let your legacy be one of leadership
Let your legacy be one of service.
