EXCERPTS FROM ADDRESS TO GRADUATING CLASS OF 2009 - ST. JOSEPH'S CONVENT, SAINT LUCIA

EXCERPTS FROM
ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THECLA C. DETERVILLE OF CELESTIAL SELF DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, SANS SOUCI, CASTRIES
AT THE AWARDS EVENING OF THE SAINT JOSEPH’S CONVENT SECONDARY SCHOOL, CEDARS, CASTRIES ON THURSDAY 15TH OCTOBER, 2009 COMMENCING AT 5.30 P.M.


THEME: “UNLEASHING THE EXTROARDINARY’

It is really an honour to be invited to share this special occasion with you. It has been more years than I could like to recall that I too experienced the blessing of graduating from this august institution. An institution that has impacted the lives of so many Saint Lucian women. An experience that I will always cherish and one of which I have very found memories. I have also had the privilege of having my two daughters educated here, that too was an enriching experience. So you understand the pride that I feel standing here before you. I am indeed grateful for the solid foundation that I acquired at the Saint Joseph’s Convent Secondary School.

There is a story about two shoe salesmen who went to a developing country to open up new territories. Two days after they arrived, the first salesman sent an e-mail to his boss saying “returning next plane. Can’t sell shoes here. Everybody goes barefoot.” The second salesman sent an e-mail to the home office on the third day. The message was. “Please find attached 60 orders – more to follow. Prospects, unlimited. Nobody here has shoes.” End of story.

My question to you is, in which category do you fall? The one who sees the glass half full or the one who sees it half-empty. The optimist or the pessimist.

Your theme, “Unleashing the Extraordinary”, is in itself an affirmation that there is something somewhere to be explored, something which is not ordinary, which is not the run of the mill but which goes beyond what is usual. Something, below the surface waiting to emerge, something magnificent, something special. The word unleash connotes that there is need to release something. Your theme therefore is an acknowledgement of the potential that you each possess and an invitation to let that potential, flow, let it manifest, give it life, bring it to the fore, a call to bring it to fruition.


We hear it often said that the sky is the limit; this is an indication of the altitude that you can attain if you have the right attitude to your own growth and development. You can envision what the possibilities are but to do that you must take time to introspect, “to be still and know” as the good book admonishes us to do. We must take time out to go within, I am sure you have heard of the acronym SWOT. It is a tool of analysis that is usually used in strategic planning for businesses, but it also has relevance on a personal level. I invite you to conduct a SWOT on yourself, that is, to examine what your STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES are, what OPPORTUNITIES do you see for yourself, take a world view, what are the global trends, what are the THREATS? What can stop you from achieving your goals? What can you do to lessen the impact or militate against these threats? Self awareness is very important, it is not only about how others see us it is also about how we see ourselves, do we know who we are. Not what others tell us, but what we believe about ourselves. Do not be afraid of what you find, being aware of these traits provides us with an opportunity to rethink or to rework what we see and do not like, to make changes, to make the necessary adjustments. After such analysis, weaknesses can become strengths and threats can translate into opportunities, as I indicated in my opening story. It all depends on how you CHOOSE to see it.

Whilst you are at it, this is as good a time as any, if you have not already done so to ask yourself some hard questions.

What is my purpose, why am I here? What is it that I love to do? What is it that I am very good at that I can also earn a living from? What is it that is effortless for me to do and to get a positive result? What is it that when I am doing it time does not matter? What am I passionate about? Where will my knowledge, skills, talents and abilities be best utilised? What contribution am I prepared to make to my life, that of my family and my country? What will my legacy be? What contribution can I make to the world in which I live? You are not too young to answer these questions; it is Lewis Carroll in Alice in Wonderland who said, and I quote, “If you do not know where you are going, any road will take you there.” End of quote. That certainly is not the road you want to be on.

We must always have a vision for ourselves, we live in a dynamic world, a world filled with challenges but also overflowing with opportunities, opportunities that people of my generation and my parents generation may not have had. You require that inner strength, that conviction that comes from faith in a being greater than yourself. While you strive for excellence and to be the best that you can be, do not forget the basic values that you learnt here, humility, personal integrity, honesty, sharing, caring, compassion, service to others, an attitude of gratitude, love for yourself and your neighbour and the list goes on.

One trend I am observing amongst too many young women in our country that disturbs me, is a movement away from the desire to be independent. When I refer to independence I do not mean being bullish or pig headed, I mean being able to do for yourself what others can do for you. The – “gee me” –mentality is much too pervasive, yes others can assist but do not live your life in a manner that make you totally dependent on another human being. This is a recipe for disaster, like I said earlier, if you do things in a particular way over time it becomes a habit, initially your being dependent on another may be a novelty but over time it can deteriorate into a form of slavery and by that time the habit may be too well entrenched to be easily broken, and you will certainly pay the price.

Steve Covey one of my favourite business authors refers to interdependence which is the co-existence amongst equals. But he claims that before we can be interdependent we must first be independent, and as young ladies I ask that you reflect on this. Be your own person, set boundaries for yourselves, be open to new ideas, explore, read extensively not only academic pursuits, read to broaden your horizons. Use your time wisely, strive for balance you are made up of body, mind and spirit, make time to nurture each aspect of your being. Take care of that beautiful body that God has given you, what you put into it, how you use it, you may not be a commodity on the market but keep yourself marketable. Develop your mind through your reading, your travel, the type of material that you view, not engaging in activities that debase you as a human being remember you must always be able to live with yourself, who you know YOU to be. Your spirit, we are made in the image and likeness of GOD that makes us special.

I implore you to go out there and make a difference, Saint Lucia needs you the world needs you, do not be a fence sitter or a passer bye, make your contribution as you alone can, commit to something, be responsible and accountable.

As you move along the spectrum of Unleashing the Extraordinary, I leave you with these words from: Luke Chapter 11 Verse 9: “Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened unto you.” End of verse.

Graduates, Congratulations, to all of you I wish you all the best as you continue to let your light shine, and remember to whom much is given, must is expected. Your parents have made the necessary sacrifices; your teachers have played their part, your other support structures have made their contribution, now it is your time to add value and to move the process forward, and emerge as YOUR BEST SELF- EXTROARDINARILY YOU!!!.
I thank you.
Watch this space. The entire speech will be available on DVD and CD at a later date.