Columns

In last weeks edition of Celebration of Youth I spoke about how impactful our actions can be to children. It is important to continue with this subject as it seems that time is critical when confronting problems associated around youth. Just the other day as I was standing in the James Ronald Webster Park, the children were being let out of school. It was so interesting to find that as the older students passed, they were quite reluctant to speak to me our my tennis coaches.

Before you begin to read this edition of Celebration of Youth, it is important to understand that although my column is designed to celebrate youth by highlighting positive aspects, I believe the topic that follows is timely and needs to be mentioned.

In recent issues of The Anguillian, there has been much press coverage on the new Community College in Anguilla. First and foremost, I find that this notion of instituting an opportunity for tertiary education in Anguilla is a fantastic idea as it provides more opportunities for growth within this nation for everyone, especially the young people.

Before I begin this edition of Celebration of Youth, I must apologize to my readers. The past three editions of The Anguillian were devoid of this column as I was on vacation and I did not inform my audience of my absence from Anguilla. I did, however, fully plan on having three articles written and submitted before my departure but the subjects of those articles failed to return my e-mails and phone calls. Nevertheless, I am now home and this column will resume its weekly appointment with The Anguillian.

Seeing that I did not had the privilege of attending the Service of Thanksgiving for the restoration of the Chief Minister’s health, little over a week ago, I’d like to publicly declare my expressions of gratitude to God for a successful surgery and for his providential healing. It is always befitting to give thanks, especially when the case is as significant as the blessings of a properly functioning transplanted kidney.

While traveling through a strange environment, it is usually beneficial to establish for ourselves certain landmarks for the purpose of easily finding our way around. I am sure that many of us have experienced such benefits amidst the maze of unfamiliar surroundings. A landmark could be of enormous value, whether it be a gigantic building just around the corner, an old green house surrounded by a wall, a huge shady tree, a popular fast-food restaurant or a busy bus-stop. Yes, landmarks are essential for strangers who are not acquainted with the town.

There seems to be a myth that governments are the only entity responsible for the development of youth and society. Although governments play a major role in the two aforementioned areas, responsibility does not lay solely on any separate entity as it should be a collaborative effort among government, community, and parents.

The United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 14/106 of December, 14th 1990 designated October First of every year as the International Day of Elder Persons. By its resolution of 21st December, 1995 the United Nations General Assembly re-designated the International Day for the Elderly as International Day for Elder Persons.

Recently, I took it upon myself to ask various teachers about students who stand out in the classroom. Of course, many names were given, but there were two young ladies that incessantly stuck out. Krystie and Krystal Webster, twin daughters of Zulma Webster from the Labour Department and all three residents of Long Road, are this week’s topic of praise. The twins are most famous because of the manner in which they excel in the classroom, but in my opinion, the responsibility shown by these two in being able to juggle so many activities at once is most impressive.

Youth seems to be a timely subject these days. It is being mentioned on the various radio stations and talk shows, on web pages and talk forums related to Anguilla, as well as the local newspapers. Consequently, the media blitz on youth topics has prompted many people and organizations to start, maintain or upgrade youth initiatives.

Although the summer heat is still upon us, the summer break is over for the children. At the start of July, I wrote about taking advantage of the summer break and using it to grow as a young adult by doing productive things. There were various programs throughout the summer that made a positive impact on everyone involved: Camp Be Aware, the Anguilla Tennis Academy 2006 Summer Camp, The Anguilla Youth Sailing School, and the library program. Now that the new school year has commenced, it is important to take advantage of after school programs that are committed to developing youth and giving them more options when school is out for the day.

With this edition of The Anguillian, you will find a full page article about Keithroy Proctor. He received a full tennis scholarship to attend Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee. Keithroy received much attention one year ago as this particular scholarship, worth over USD $120,000, was offered to him for the spring of 2006. I will not go into the details about this great feat as I will encourage all my readers to read that particular article. I will however expound upon a notion that is of great importance in terms of being a successful human being: perseverance.

Clichés can be sometimes daunting and redundant, but I have always felt that clichés are actually always used because what they say and mean are completely practical. Currently, these words are being written from Pawling, New York, where Louis Price, Mitchelle Lake, and I are currently engaged in running a youth development camp for children.

Of course, there are many organizations, governmental departments, clubs, sports factions, and community initiatives in Anguilla. All are very important in terms of helping the country move forward and producing good citizens who will eventually take ownership and pride in their country. Everyone does their part to help, and every little bit counts.

Diet & Exercise
• A good diet along with exercise improves one’s quality of life, builds self-esteem, and is a constant motivator.

Last Sunday, I was afforded the privilege of having breakfast with Teacher Art Egel and a prominent young member of the Anguillan Community Mr. Jevorni Lloyd, affectionately called by his peers “J.” I initially contacted Teacher Art because of my keen interest in his summer camp known as “Camp Be Aware.”

I spent the first 18 years of my life growing up in north Florida in the areas surrounding Jacksonville. An interesting fact, most people are unaware of, is that Jacksonville is the largest city in the United States. Of course, that statement would not be true in terms of population; however this is true in terms of area.

And the young man awoke one morning and saw in his reflection in the mirror the old man that he wasn’t yet; and he saw in the lines that gave character to his expression the creeks that experience carves, and he saw in the black rings under his eyes not the consequence of a late night but the legacy of a life lived, and he saw in the drooped weight of his eyelids the distinct marking of failure, and he saw in the cracked skin that covered his lips the slow passage of unnoticed years. The time has come. A paused, croaky voice fills the air with learned determination. Eyes meet eyes in the deep surface of the mirror. I’ll never be an old man.

In a recent edition of The Anguillian, there was a section in which many students were praised for having done well at a spelling bee competition in the Modern Languages Department of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School. I too thought this was a noteworthy issue so I decided to contact Mimi Connor, Chair of the Department of Modern Languages.

For the past five weeks the general vision of the world has been slightly impaired –blurred, let us say- by a happy anomaly in the shape of football. During this period nothing really has come to a standstill, nothing has actually been prevented from happening, yet, somehow, everything has seemed to matter that little bit less.