Lady Allen urges students to aim for success

MANDEVILLE — Wife of the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Most Hon. Lady Allen, is encouraging students to always plan for success and believe in their ability to achieve.

She said that lasting success can only come, when one sets a goal, and is inspired to achieve despite any challenges or setbacks.

“What I like about having an aim is that you must have an aspiration, the self-belief that you will achieve your goals despite the odds,” she said during her keynote address at the May Pen High School’s Honours Convocation ceremony on Monday on the school grounds.

According to Lady Allen, striving for success “does not mean everything is perfect, or that your surroundings are perfect, or that your home or community situations are perfect. It means that by truly believing that you are a promise and a possibility, you have decided to rise above all the imperfections, challenges and hurdles that will come your way,” she stated.

She commended the 30 top achievers from the Clarendon-based school, who were honoured for their outstanding academic achievement during the year, noting that “you are an asset to your school, your families, communities, and to Jamaica."

She encouraged those, who did not make the honour roll this time, to continue to work hard and believe in their abilities.  “Do not despair; if you aspire, and be inspired, you will be motivated to actualise that dream into reality,” she said.

Meanwhile, top performing male student at the school, Hughdaine Dwyer, told JIS News that his achievement came through dedicated studying, support and a strong belief in God.

“I study hard. My mother and father help me and the teachers always motivate me to do my best. It makes me feel very good, but within me, I know I can do better,” he said.

By GARFIELD L. ANGUS, JIS Reporter