Do your best!

“When you’ve done your best, no man can ask better.”

These words of encouragement were shared yesterday by Parliamentary Representative for St. James South, Sandra Husbands, with Class Four students during a visit to the West Terrace Primary School on the eve of the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (BSSEE), which will take place today.

The 89 Class Four students, who will sit the exam at Queen’s College, will join hundreds of primary school students across the island, for what is commonly referred to as the 11-Plus exam.

Husbands, who is also the Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Trade, joined Principal Ometa Hinds in offering sage advice on how they should approach the exam, recognising that the preparations were started months, if not years in advance.

She told the students that each person has a purpose set out by God. “God will help you to fulfil your purpose regardless of what school you are going to, regardless of what family you have come from, regardless of what nation you are born in, no matter what has happened to you or will happen to you... All He is asking you to do is to trust Him and know He is bigger than anything that scares you,” she said.

Minister Husbands told the students that consistency is key and assured them that they are ready for the big day. “You are ready for your future. Each of you will be assigned to a school. Our Government is working to make sure that every school our students go to, that we give them the very best education.”

She said that it is important for students to make use of these opportunities being provided, adding that all persons are capable of excellence. To accomplish this, they must have the ability to generate good habits.

“You become what you practise. Getting ahead in life is not making a big giant leap, but practising a set of habits that make you very good at what you want to do. So it is what you and I practise every single day.”

She said students should ask themselves, “Am I choosing a set of activities that will help me to get ahead or am I choosing activities that are slowing me down? If you want to change your goals, change your habits,” Husbands advised.

Minister Husbands also stressed the importance of reading, acknowledging that there are those who do not like to read. “The only way to get information is by reading. What can you do to overcome something that you don’t like? Do a little bit every day.”

The Minister also encouraged the students to ask questions if they don’t understand what is being said in the classroom, particularly when they enter their new school in September. (JH)