Students stirred by call to persevere

Stirred by the call to persevere by South Florida-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Philip Wong during the second Pioneers of Tomorrow lecture series hosted by his alma mater, St George’s College, students were, last week, steered positively towards their career paths.

Wong, a 1959 graduate of the high school and the CEO of the Deltana Group of Companies, a leading architectural hardware manufacturer, delivered an inspiring account of triumphs over trials and donated $50 million towards a state-of-the-art gymnasium and extra-class tutorials. He stressed, throughout his presentation, the pivotal role perseverance played.

“Following Mr Wong’s presentation, I felt deeply empowered to pursue my goals as a radiologist,” said Ricardo Ellis, deputy head boy of St George’s College.

“And it has changed how I plan and act – setting long-term goals now with short, measurable steps. I have learnt that perseverance is both mindset and practice, that disappointments are just detours and not dead ends, and that even if my resources are limited, I must make the most of what I have. It has also been made clear that for every academic goal that I set, there should be a matching giving-back goal as achievement should be redeployed, and success is capital for uplifting others.”

THREE-PART LECTURE SERIES

Students and educators from 10 high schools across the island participated the second of the school’s three-part lecture series. Nnoyka Archer, attending the Convent of Mercy, Alpha, said it has motivated her to push through challenges and disappointing grades as success often comes from long-term effort rather than quick results.

“I feel more confident about my future goals because his story is about success being possible despite obstacles.”

Taken by Wong’s generosity of spirit, she said she also believes that success is not complete without helping others along the way.

“I have a responsibility to contribute to my school and community through volunteering, mentoring, or small acts of support. It encourages me to stay connected to my roots and to remember the value my school instilled in me.”

Jade-Ann Fray, also of the Convent of Mercy, Alpha, said setbacks and failures are inevitable but that they must be used as learning opportunities rather than reasons to give up.

“Success is attainable if I combine hard work with persistence,” she said.

“Success is also not just about personal achievements but importantly, about protecting one’s reputation and character – as Mr Wong stressed.”

Jerome Hayles, valedictorian for the St George’s College Class of 2025, captain of the Schools’ Challenge Quiz team, secretary of the Student Council and president of the school’s entrepreneurship club, believes that a key lesson learnt from the presentation is that setbacks can be stepping stones.

“This will certainly help in facing challenges when bringing ideas to life or motivating peers to see the value in entrepreneurship,” Hayles said.

The call to persevere also rests well with him.

“It allows me to push through difficult subjects, late nights of preparation and when things don’t work out as planned.”

He said the lecture has reshaped his understanding of leadership to be more proactive in finding solutions and to have the courage to make tough decisions when necessary.

On the issue of giving back, he said “It’s our turn to do the same thing that was done for us – and by investing in the lives of those who follow us, we are doing more than just helping individuals. We are securing a brighter and more prosperous future for Jamaica.”

editorial@gleanerjm.com