Students Explore Career Options At Youth Opportunities Expo

Students from schools across St. Thomas, Portland and St. Mary connected with several educational and training institutions, government services and career-building activities at a Youth Opportunities Exposition, on Thursday (March 26).

The inaugural event was organised by the Paul Bogle Vocational Institute in Lyssons, St. Thomas, and took place on the school grounds.

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, in a message delivered by Custos of St. Thomas, Hon. Marcia Bennett, declared the Exposition officially open.

The Governor-General encouraged the youngsters to consider their futures carefully.

“In my own journey, from the classroom to the pulpit, I have come to appreciate a simple but powerful truth. Geography is not destiny. Where you begin does not determine where you will end. Your present circumstances are not your final definition. They are merely your starting point,” he said.

He urged the students to view their life’s work as a great construction project which requires a solid foundation.

“Like any enduring structure, it must be built with care and intention. It cannot rest on indecision and mediocrity. It must be anchored in discipline, strengthened by purpose, and guided by vision,” the Governor-General said.

He deemed the Exposition a procurement centre, providing pathways to vocational excellence, insights into academic advancement, and tools for entrepreneurial success.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth, Skills and Information, Senator Marlon Morgan, who represented Portfolio Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, said the country wants the young people in St. Thomas, Portland and St. Mary to be on the cutting edge in terms of information and access.

He stressed that the approach to education and training cannot be static, pointing out that, “if we are to remain agile, relevant, and fit for purpose, certainly in education and the training of our young people, we have to ensure that we continue to renew, we continue to refresh, and we continue to rethink”.

To this end, Mr. Morgan charged the youngsters to be intentional in their decision-making.

“The decisions you make will set you up for life. If you make good decisions, you are on a path to being a productive, gainfully employed, and fulfilled citizen of Jamaica,” the Senator said.

Also in attendance at the Expo were representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, including from the High Commissions of Germany, India, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Following the opening ceremony, the officials toured the Paul Bogle Vocational Training Institute, observing some of the work of the students who attend the more than 30-year-old institution.

A major feature of the Expo was a large showing by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), which showcased various branches of its operations, much to the delight of the young attendees.

Sergeant Andrew Williams of the JCF’s Community Safety and Security Branch told JIS News that, “we are bringing your police officers to your doorsteps, so you can have a better understanding of what we do and how we impact the communities”.

“Youth are so important, especially with technology. We want them to understand that the JCF is a wonderful career path for them. But in understanding the JCF, they must know the different sections that we have on offer and, hopefully… that will excite them,” he said.

The Jamaica Defence Force, the Department of Correctional Services, and the Jamaica Fire Brigade were also well represented at the event, as well as all major universities in the island, government and non-governmental agencies and various financial institutions.