Premier Delivers Remarks At School Prizegiving

Premier Michael Dunkley addressed a full assembly of students, parents and teachers at the annual Warwick Academy Prizegiving held on Thursday evening [Oct 1].

The Premier highlighted the fact that Principal Maggie McCorkell will be retiring next June after 24 years with the school and commended her tenure at the school.

Premier Dunkley said, “Education is vital. Without it, your life becomes much more difficult, fewer opportunities are within your reach and the world becomes a confining place.

“But with education, the world opens up. It is the key to your potential, it is the key to unlocking doors of opportunity, and it is the key to enabling you to pursue the life of your choosing.”

The Premier went on to say, “School, whether at the primary, secondary or university level should be one of the best times of your life, learning about the world, developing important skills, learning to compete and growing friendships, some of which may last a lifetime.

“School is really the first opportunity that you have outside of family to build your life on the basis of who you are and what you want to be.”

Premier Dunkley’s full remarks follow below:

Good evening everyone.

Principal McCorkell, faculty and staff, parents and students, it is a pleasure to be here with you for the Warwick Academy Annual Prize Day.

I understand, Mrs. McCorkell, that you will be retiring next June after 24 years with the school and that this will be your last Prize Day as Principal.

In that light, I consider it an honour to share the stage with you and thank the Board of Governors for the invitation.

It is a matter of record that Warwick Academy under your leadership moved from strength to strength, most notably achieving the school’s best ever GCSE and IB examination results.

This tells me that Warwick Academy is in good hands, and that the changes brought about during your tenure worked to the benefit of your students.

I can think of no greater accomplishment for an educator, and so I hope you take great pride in the fact that you developed the capabilities of so many young people to live productive and fulfilling lives.

Warwick Academy is one of the great institutions of Bermuda. It is the oldest school on the Island and, I believe, one of the oldest schools in what was once called The New World.

It is this history, this sustained existence that points to something every generation of Bermudians recognized and that every student here today should understand:

Education is vital.

Without it, your life becomes much more difficult, fewer opportunities are within your reach and the world becomes a confining place.

But with education, the world opens up. It is the key to your potential, it is the key to unlocking doors of opportunity, and it is the key to enabling you to pursue the life of your choosing.

This prize giving ceremony today is an integral part of the education process.
It rewards excellent work, and all that that entails – discipline, dedication, enthusiasm, curiosity, clear thinking…

For those who win a prize today, you will be able to draw on the pride of accomplishment, and the confidence it begets, to help you deal with challenges you will continue to face in the classroom and beyond.

For those who are not prizewinners today – as well as for those who are – it is important to understand that it is not critical to be Number 1.

What is important is to strive to be your best. That is all you or anyone should hope for.

Find your own best level, and remember what it takes to get there. Know that, and you will know your prize.

As Premier, I have been to a few school ceremonies and I must say that they always stir strong memories of my own time at school.

I grew to love my school days – surrounded by friends, playing sports, learning new things and acquiring skills that I have used all my life.

Being here today, I am reminded that I always enjoyed the first term of the year, bit nervous perhaps with a new class and all, but starting fresh with renewed energy the hope of doing well.

School, whether at the primary, secondary or university level should be one of the best times of your life, learning about the world, developing important skills, learning to compete and growing friendships, some of which may last a lifetime.

School is really the first opportunity that you have outside of family to build your life on the basis of who you are and what you want to be.

If there is a lesson I can pass on to you, it is for you to take advantage of your time in these hallowed halls.

That may not be as easy as it sounds. Sometimes you don’t fully appreciate what you’re going through until you’ve gone through it; sometimes the Big Picture is not so clear. And so my message to you is this:

Seize the day!

Make the most of your time here. These are your learning days and Warwick Academy exists to help you grow.

The school’s slogan – So much more than just a place to learn – says the school is focused equally, if not more on building character as it is about academic success.

So I urge you to use the year ahead to think about that and to commit yourself to growing the person you want to be. Think of yourself as a work in progress, building to something better.

Will you be the kind of person who is honest, compassionate and fair?

Will you stay at your desk until the work is right?

Will you be someone who stops a bully?

Will you learn from your mistakes?

Will you be someone people can rely on?

Will you get back on your feet when you’ve been knocked down, to try again?

I list these character questions only to make the point that what you become… scientist, tradesman, civil servant… is not as important as who you become.

The great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. saw the importance of building the person as well as the mind.

“The function of education, he said, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. But education that stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to society. The most dangerous criminal may be the man gifted with reason, but with no morals. We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character that is the goal of true education.

These are wise words that we all should carry forward.

Now, as the school year gets underway, I would like you to consider some lessons and insights that I picked up on my own journey.

Always believe in yourself. Believe in what you’re doing. When you believe in yourself others will also believe in you.

Persevere, sacrifice and work hard. Nothing truly meaningful comes without those commitments.

Show up on time, have good manners and treat people with respect. Relationships are extremely important. They can reward your life all your life.

Don’t be afraid of failure. Failure is often the stepping-stone to success. Use it to grow and be better.

Be positive. Don’t give in to the negativity that is so rampant today. You are better than that. Be a star.

Don’t forget to have fun. Nothing makes sense if you don’t have fun.

And finally,

Be a proud Bermudian. This is a great country, with an amazing history, amazing people and a big future. Be part of it.

Get your education and join the good work to make the Island work for you, your family, your friends and your fellow Bermudians – all of us together in this life.

I wish you all the best in the year ahead.

You are students in a great school in a world of wonderful possibilities. Take advantage of it. Be good. Enjoy the journey.

Thank you.

#Education #MichaelDunkley #WarwickAcademy

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