Column: Robinson On Family, Community & More
[Opinion column written by MP Dwayne Robinson]
When I was growing up, I was a handful. My mother gave me her everything but I was a young, rambunctious boy who was determined to do whatever I felt was best for me at the time. Now, as a parent myself, I understand why my mother never gave up.
She was committed to my future—the best that I deserved. But she couldn’t do it alone. In fact, my village wouldn’t allow her to.
It took supportive teachers and family members to turn me around. I do not know where I would be without my cousins who took me in, my aunties who acted as second mothers, my stern grandparents, my Godparents, and a mother who never gave up on me.
During my upbringing I had a lot of neighbours who looked out for the children in the area. If I didn’t have my village, my life could have looked completely different as I had many negative influences pulling me in the opposite direction of what my mother wanted for me.
Many of our young people feel a deep sense of loneliness, even when surrounded by friends and loved ones.
Some do not feel confident expressing their interests or truly feel like they belong somewhere. One of my best transformative experiences was participating in the Raleigh Bermuda programme.
It shifted my entire mindset and gave me a sense of belonging. I spent three months in India and through that experience, I learned to value myself, and to make genuine connections with people. For some of our young people, opportunities like this can make all the difference when it comes down to taking the right decisions at that fork in the road.
We cannot underestimate how the right extracurricular activity, community club, or charity can positively impact a young person. Especially with the backing of an engaged parent.
I would be remiss if I did not stress how some teachers made all the difference for me. Seeing that my lashing out was a cry for help and not reckless aggression, they and my mother worked together to chart a path which involved counseling and specific programmes, including the Family Learning Center. That made all the difference for me.
The responsibility of maintaining our education system falls primarily on the government, but as parents, we can also do our part through PTAs to support our educators and be our children’s biggest advocates.
We must not stand in the way of our children’s consequences or reprimands but instead reinforce behavioural boundaries and not leave the discipline solely to the teacher.
This is not a lecture because I know the responsibility of raising a child is not an easy feat, as I learn to navigate while raising my son, and the lessons he teaches me.
Often these lessons require many sacrifices, especially in this current economic climate. I sympathize with parents who are struggling to make ends meet, who are pouring from an empty cup.
As I reflect and share with you, this is an appeal to you. We cannot continue as we are, with so many of our people being lost. I have shared a bit of my personal story, to say that if we put the time, a young person’s path can be altered.
We must rebuild the village and break down the stigma of counselling, therapy, grief counseling, and attaining mental health care.
Prevention is much better than searching for a cure.
- Dwayne Robinson, One Bermuda Alliance MP for Constituency 30, Southampton East Central
