Hu-Ann Rhoden, an Annotto Bay resident studying at Immaculate Conception High School, and Rodje Malcolm from Ardenne High speak about the need for role models during the Governor General's Achievement Awards Breakfast at Frenchman's Cove in Portland on Wednesday. - Photos by Andrew Wildes

It may not be a call many expect from teenagers, but youth leaders are insisting that a major step in Jamaica's development must be the increased involvement of successful adults in their lives as role models.

"I believe in inspiration. I believe you should have a role model, so that you can follow that person," said Hu-Ann Rhoden, a student at the Immaculate Conception High School.

"I follow after my mother; my mother was from humble beginnings and she determined that she would not make my life like her life was," she explained.

Rhoden and other youth speakers from the county of Surrey were guests at the Governor General's Achievement Awards Breakfast at Frenchman's Cove Hotel in Portland on Wednesday.

Sharing opinions

In keeping with Governor General Dr Patrick Allen's 'I Believe' campaign, the young leaders were called on to share their opinions on a number of issues.

Rodje Malcolm, a student at the Ardenne High School, argued that the influence of role models in the lives of young people could really help in curbing the twin-headed monster of crime and violence, which he claims is fuelled by ignorance.

"We're speaking about crime and violence and certain mistakes that people make. Well, ignorance is a serious problem that persons seem to ignore sometimes," said Malcolm.

He also said there was a need for the creation of organisations to do one-on-one counselling of youth from as young as the basic and primary school levels.

"When I reach the high school level I have already formed my opinions in my mind and am already rooted into certain things within my community. At the basic school level, or prep school level, you can weed out certain bad characteristics in persons and you can curb the issue of ignorance."

Rhoden, in describing the framework for the idea, suggested that "successful people" from various communities, various stations of life could "go into different schools and talk about their jobs", because "if you hear great things, you will want to be a great person".

"I want to be the best pathologist ever - ever. Now I was inspired by a big sister, when I was in the seventh grade, she was a pathologist. That's how I got my inspiration," Rhoden shared.

andrew.wildes@gleanerjm.com