Six Half Moon Fort Primary School pupils were challenged to defy expectations and pursue greatness, as environmental advocate Kammie Holder called on them to “unleash your potential” at their graduation ceremony in St Lucy.
Delivering the keynote address under the theme From small steps to giant leaps – unleash your potential, Holder, who is also the chairman of the Future Centre Trust, encouraged the class of 2025 to look beyond their rural beginnings.
He shared the inspiring story of the messaging app WhatsApp’s founder, Jan Koum, who grew up in poverty in Ukraine before migrating to the United States, teaching himself computers, and eventually selling his app for billions.
“Jan once said: ‘You can achieve anything if you’re willing to work for it.’ That’s a lesson for every one of you here today: No matter where you start . . . your potential is limitless,” Holder told the students.
Quoting civil rights icon Dr Martin Luther King Jr, he reminded them: “Not everybody can be famous, but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service.”
He described greatness not as fame or fortune, but as character – kindness, honesty, integrity and courage. As they prepare for the challenges of secondary school, Holder encouraged them to resist peer pressure and make brave, independent choices.
“Sometimes that means saying ‘no’ when others say ‘yes’, walking away from drama, and doing what’s right, not what is easy,” he said. “You won’t always get applause, but you will gain self-respect, courage and true leadership.”
Holder also applauded the principal, teachers and ancillary staff for their often-overlooked contributions, and left the graduates with a signature piece of Bajan wisdom:
“Remain proud but not pompous, remain hungry, but not hangry, remain humble but never arrogant . . . . Go unleash your potential, for the world awaits you.”
The northern school has a roll of 46. The top male student, Najee Maynard, earned a spot at Alexander School, while the top girl, Naazara Inniss, will be attending Coleridge and Parry in September. (SZB)
The post Half Moon Fort pupils urged to ‘unleash potential’ at graduation appeared first on Barbados Today.
