Students Urged to Leverage Their Talents

Students of the Graydon Sealy Secondary School have been encouraged by The President of Barbados, His Excellency, Lieutenant Colonel, The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, to take stock of their talents and work at achieving their goals.

The President addressed the student body on Wednesday, during his official visit to the school, which is celebrating its golden jubilee. This was Mr. Bostic’s first official visit to a secondary school, as he continues his conversations with students across the island.

He encouraged the students to set goals, work to achieve them and don’t allow challenges to hinder their progress. He told the children to be “the very best” that they could be, “as long as it is positive and wholesome”.

He spoke about the “Chapman Challenge”, which he introduced recently, designed to “help move” individuals from where they currently are “to achieving and reaching the highest levels” possible.

The challenge is open to children 12 years and older, and will include scholarships to the Kings Academy in Jordan.

Mr. Bostic disclosed that His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, King of Jordan, has “decided to offer a few scholarships to persons participating in the Chapman Challenge”, between the ages of 12 and 18.

In addition to meeting the academic requirements, students must come from low-income households.

The Chapman Challenge will also offer a special programme to assist inmates at Dodds Prison in discovering and unlocking their strengths, easing their reintegration into society as “honest, proud citizens of Barbados”.

A National Mentorship Programme is also being formulated, encompassing faith-based, sporting and other community-based organisations, to help individuals achieve their personal and professional goals. 

In addition to being welcomed by a guard of honour from members of the school’s cadet corps, His Excellency was treated to a cultural presentation, music from the school’s steel band, and a tour of mounted artwork by the student body.  Mr. Bostic received artwork which was painted by two students. (PR/GIS)