Dame Jennifer Speaks At Warwick Academy

Education Minister Dame Jennifer Smith visited Warwick Academy this morning [Sept.12], and addressed the students of Warwick Academy at their morning assembly.

Minister Smith touched on such areas as leadership, the importance of an education and she also shared with them some insight about her personal and professional pursuits. The full text of her address follows below:

Good Morning and… welcome back to school!

To your Principal Mrs. McCorkell – thank you for inviting me to say a few words to this assembly at the start of this school year.

And thank you to Daniel and Amanda (Head Boy and Head Girl) for greeting me this morning.

On Wednesday, the first day of school, I visited several schools and I was reminded that there was no way – just from looking at the fresh faces – of telling who would be successful; and who would not.

But one thing is certain.

You – each of you – have the tools needed to help you successfully learn. You have a dedicated principal and professional teachers, caring and passionate parents, and all of the books and technology that you could possibly want.

Sstudents, I promise not to keep you long, but I do want to share some words of encouragement with you.

This may not be what you expect to hear from a Minister of Education. But I have to tell you the truth. I entered school with one bad habit and one good habit.

My bad habit was that I didn’t like to study. My good habit was that I loved to read – anything and everything. Text books, books that were required reading – I read everything – once. I did not go back and study, I relied on my memory — a bad choice, I can tell you now in hindsight.

My dream was to be an artist. And I did go to Art School and became a professional artist. I have also been a newspaper reporter, an editor, a copywriter and a television producer.

I tell you this to warn you that you will probably hold a variety of jobs in your lifetime. Be ready!

Follow your passion and learn everything you can about everything you’re interested in – not just the subjects that are required – but also subjects that are not required.

Quite simply, education is the foundation of any success that you may seek.

I have something else to tell you.

I did not win my seat in Parliament the first time I ran.

I didn’t win it the second time, or the third!

No, it took me six attempts over 17 years to win the seat of St. George’s North which I currently represent.

So, if at first you don’t succeed…

What should you do?

Try, try again… that’s right.

There are many successful people who have achieved success after failure. In fact, some believe that failure prepares you for success.

My point this morning is that some things will come easy to some of you – others will have to try harder. The only failure is to stop trying.

You, more than any other generation are aware of how much technology is changing the world. In careers from medicine to construction, from hospitality to law and from entertainment to science.

You, more than any other generation understand that this will result in careers that we cannot even imagine at this moment.

All that you can do is learn as much as you can, about as much as you can and follow the guidance of your teachers, so that you can gain a solid education as a foundation.

You have every advantage… which also means that you have no excuse to fail!

I can honestly say that my Bermuda public education prepared me for much of what I have achieved. And I know that Warwick Academy will prepare you for whatever your future holds.

It’s good to have goals. It’s good to want to be a success. But the first step to attaining these things begins with your education.

Thank you for listening – it is my hope that you will remember something of what I have said.
You are the future of this Country, and I expect great things from each of you creative, confident, articulate individuals.

Once again, thank you for inviting me, I wish you success in the new school year.

Thank you.

#Education #WarwickAcademy

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