Strive for Excellence

A group of youngsters headed to secondary school in two weeks’ time have been challenged to aim high in their studies; never settling for just “a pass”.

“Fifty per cent could never be a pass,” former teacher and well-known entertainer, Mr. Mac Fingall, insisted.   

“Fifty per cent means that you do not know 50 per cent of the work. So if you wanted to be a carpenter and you got 50 per cent in carpentry, what kind of house are you going to build for me – a half of a house?”

He was the guest speaker at the Togetherness Social Group 11+ Achievers Seminar at the Togetherness headquarters at Jackman’s, St. Michael, on Saturday evening.

For the past six years, the Group – led by President Pat Parris – has assisted children from the community as they transition from primary to secondary school.

“I want you to master the subject; I want you to get 75, 80 per cent so you can master the subject. So I am not interested in your place in class – you could come first in class because the rest don’t know nothing; you could come first with 40 per cent. You could be the best in the class because the class is poor. So I want you to do your best every time; give 100 per cent every time.”

Fingall also advised the students to “speak up” in their new environments, remembering that no question is a stupid question.

“If you don’t know, ask. And if somebody ask you what you think, or what you feel, your answer can’t be wrong because that’s what you think and what you feel. So always learn to speak up because you want to learn,” he stressed.

In addition, during the interactive session, Fingall tested the students’ knowledge on which jobs would be considered white-collar and blue-collar.

He went on to make it clear that God gave us all different talents.

“If we were all of the same intellect, the world would be confused,” Fingall said.

“All jobs are noble. If something inside you tells you that you want to be a fisherman, there is nothing wrong with that because you are going to Harrison College – your job is to be the best fisherman you can be,” he urged.

“If anyone of you all ever feel that you want to be a butcher, carpenter, grave digger – whatever it is, just do it and don’t be shame as it is just as important. As a matter of fact, if we had an earthquake tomorrow, tell me who would be more important. Would it be for somebody to go into an office to send a document or for someone to cut the trees, restore electricity and water, bury the dead and carry away all the garbage…? Who would be the important people now?”

The students also received a lesson on Substance Abuse from Sgt. Mohan of the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF), who also explained that for every action there is a consequence.

Each of the new graduates received a Chefette-branded bag with supplies, and a monetary donation made possible by the Watts family from New York. (TL)