‘Do not give up on your dreams’

You can achieve your dreams, if you are willing to work hard and go the extra mile needed to be successful.

This was essentially the message Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to Barbados, His Excellency Gustavo Martinez Pandiani delivered to young campers, during the Camp Energy 2019 Closing Ceremony held at the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) Paragon Base in Christ Church on Friday.

“Do not give on your dreams. Whatever you want to do in life, you are going to do it. Don’t give up. Of course, there will be obstacles along the road, challenges… [but] if you really want to be someone in life, to change your social environment, your family’s future, you can do it if you really fight for it” the Ambassador admonished.

As he delivered the feature address, His Excellency Gustavo Martinez Pandiani shared with the youngsters his own childhood dream of becoming an Ambassador, which has come to fruition. He noted that from around the age of eight or nine, he had such a dream. He acknowledged that there were some critics who tried to discourage him from attaining his dream, by suggesting that it was only attainable for those who were sons or grandsons of diplomats. However, he told the campers that he worked and studied really hard and against all odds, was able to attain his heart’s desire.

He therefore stressed, “Do not let anyone put a limit to your dreams. You will do exactly what you want to do, if you are ready to fight for it, if you are ready to do an extra effort. Go the extra mile and you will get there. As a witness about dreams being possible, I know it is possible. So do not give up”.

“So if this camp was a good opportunity to realise you want to be a soldier or a commander, you will be a soldier and commander and you will be the best soldier and the best commander. If this camp helped you to discover that you want to be a teacher or the Prime Minister of Barbados, you will be the Prime Minister of Barbados, but you have to work very hard,” he told the young ones who were listening attentively.

He meanwhile advised them to avoid short cuts.

“If someone tells you ‘this is a shortcut, don’t make a lot of effort, you can get there anyway,’ do not take it. Do not take any shortcuts. Do the long run, because it is going to be better for you in the end,” he stated.

The Ambassador meanwhile took time out to commend BDF officials and other key stakeholders for successfully hosting Camp Energy, which is now in its 13th year. It was held under the theme, “Around the World in 10 Days,” and he noted that the exposure gained by the campers in learning about different countries and cultures, would stand them in good stead for the future.

“Let me congratulate you. You are doing a great job. You are doing something that is going to be important to change some of the lives of these kids,” the Ambassador remarked. (RSM)