Recently I had the privilege of addressing the graduating class at Porter’s Centre for Knowledge. I am sharing the presentation with others of you who are in transition to the next phase of your academic life.

1. Your history does not define your destiny
• Destiny is not a matter of chance it is a matter of choice;
• It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved. William Jennings Bryan

The fact that you did well at one level is no guarantee that the success will continue. You must set out to design the future that you desire and you must work at making it happen.

2. You Run Things…
• No-one can prevent you from learning, If you want to
• No-one can make you learn, If you don’t want to.

It is too easy to lay the blame for your failures at someone else’s feet. Students often tell me that they can’t learn because the teacher does not like them. My question to them is “Do our DJs, the Rap artistes or singers like them?” Then how come they know the words to every song ever recorded? This points to what they see as important and to a warped sense of priority.

3. The most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, When it ought to be done, Whether you like it or not.   Walter Bagehot

The most critical aspect of the educational experience is the habits that are developed. The same excuses that were honed during the school years to rationalize why the work could not be completed and tend to follow you into your adult life. We have allowed ourselves and our children to become soft. We only do what feels good, what pleases us instantly. We have become too accustomed to instant gratification.

4. How far you get in life will be largely determined by how far you go in school.

We are now in the New Work Order which requires a higher level of skills and competences to get in the game and to cope with the changes ahead. If your child only goes as far as you did in school it will be much harder for him to replicate the lifestyle that you have raised him/her to. The competition is greater.

5. “Education makes you trainable, Training makes you employable, but Attitude makes you successful.” HEART Trust

The previous paradigm suggested that some students did not need to focus on specific academic pursuits because they could compensate by their exposure to vocational training. We now know that this was an error. All students need to enter the game of life with a full deck. We have seen many people lose their way because of a bad attitude.

6. You need to continuously learn new skills because you are likely to change careers 6 times in your life time.

Every year, old jobs disappear and are replaced by new jobs that require new competences. The only persons who will be able to evolve with these changes are those who are prepared to continuously grow. Adults need to understand and then help their children understand the need to become lifelong learners.

7. Exposure facilitates awareness, awareness facilitates interest, and interest facilitates skill.

Parents and teachers need to understand that skills do not magically appear. There is a definable cycle that must be engaged, beginning with exposure. This means that if we do not broaden and deepen the possibilities for exposure, we lessen the likelihood of sowing the seed from which skills will eventually be nurtured.

8. Your parents cannot leave their status to you on the will.

• Your family name may get you in the door, but you have to earn the right to stay there.

Many children from privileged circumstances labour under false assumptions based on their family of origin. The sooner that they realize that they will have to earn their place in the world, the more equipped will they be to build on the start provided by their parents.

9. Understand the motives of those who want to be your friends.

Many children going to new schools come September can easily be exploited by persons who prey on their need for connectedness. Parents you must help your children to filter and evaluate these new experiences. Help them understand the importance of always doing what is right.

10. Your talents are God’s gift to you, what you do with them is your gift to God.

Remind your children of the Parable of the Talents in the Bible. Make sure that they understand the spiritual mandate to use their abilities for the greater good. Remind them of the words of Bob Marley and The Wailers:

Live for yourself, you live in vain
Live for others, you will live again.
(Pass it On)

Dr. Semaj is a frequent facilitator for Strategic Planning Retreats, Cultural alignment and Organizational Restructuring. He conducts Staff Selection and Development Programmes for different business sectors across the Caribbean.