Students from schools in five parishes met with Governor General Patrick Allen earlier this month to discuss various issues of concern and submit possible solutions.
The breakfast meeting, part of an 'I Believe' series being hosted by the Governor General's Achievement Awards Scheme, took place at the Caymanas Golf and Country Club in St Catherine. Students from schools in Clarendon, Manchester, St Mary and St Catherine participated.
"I want to look at the issue of parenting. I think in general, it goes back to a decline in morals, it's not just parenting. I can say when you look at the past as against now, while there are positives, people are gravitating to what is negative and so your parents need to be examples. You live in a community where you can count on your hand how many you can look up to. It's like doing the wrong thing is the norm, it's not just in the home. When you go outside and when you go on the street, you see it's the reality. It's not about children having children, it's about responsibility, maturity and knowing commitment. I think we can come together and think about some strategies to improve morals.
We, as youths, need to be intrinsically motivated. Once we fathom something, we can make that a reality. As the governor general said, 'I believe' must be etched in every classroom, the screensaver of every computer and cellphone, and it must be in the heart of every student until it is a part of our achievement. I believe that parents can do so much and no more, it is up to us as youths of Jamaica to bring this nation forward to a higher level.
In solving a problem, we need to identify the problem and where it started. Now the epicentre of this social earthquake comes from improper parenting.
Any time we solve the problem of improper parenting in families then the structure of society will change.
We all know that, especially in Jamaica, we are accustomed to announcements, and accustomed to things being said and getting our hopes up. But what I have been perturbed by, is the fact we have not, in most cases, followed through on the things that have been said. We need to move away from this culture of laziness which has been debilitating our society.
I am fearful because I realise that many times, it takes links to get jobs.
I don't have a family member in the kind of position that allows those links so will I get my opportunity.
I think we need to look at it from another perspective. I am thinking about a form of internal or intrinsic motivation here. The fact that we are here (Governor General's breakfast meeting), suggests we don't have a problem with that. I find that many times people don't believe in themselves. Many times you go on the road, you don't hear people talk about the positive things, all you hear is 'nutt'n nah gwaan'. Even though you say the children are the future, if they don't see the way to go, they won't get over the past.
kimesha.walters@gleanerjm.com