Graduates urged to become multi-skilled

CHIEF EXECUTIVE Officer of Metal Industries Limited, Cipriani Davis on Friday urged graduates of the Civilian Conservation Corps Cycle 0401 to overcome whatever barriers that may be placed before them, and work towards achieving their goals and their wildest expectations. Davis, who was the motivational speaker at the CCC graduation ceremony at the St John’s Hall on Wrightson Road, PoS, noted that despite the many obstacles that may exist in a person’s life, once God was on their side, they could achieve anything they wanted. He told the graduands that “no bird ever flew higher than its wings can carry it,” and advised them to see themselves as eagles, then allow their strong and powerful wings to carry them to the heighest heights to achieve their ultimate goals.

He urged them to become multi-skilled and multi-talented, noting that a person possessing one skill in today’s job market would never “last very long.”  Davis went on to explain to the participants that when he had completed school, he only had one subject and, based on his hard work and determination to succeed, he became a trained engineer and the CEO of a company. Also bringing words of encouragement to the students, on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, was Colonel Edmund E Dillon, who reminded them that their graduation was just the first step of their journey, advising that they look beyond that point. He told them that they should plan out their paths, remain focused, set goals for themselves, put these goals in the order of priority, then work towards achieving those goals.

He reminded them that in the alphabet to “get to ‘Z,’ you must first start at ‘A’,” noting that their graduation ceremony was that “A.” He also advised them to continue to reflect the teachings of CCC through their public behaviour and attitude. In delivering the feature address on behalf of the National Security Minister, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Trevor Percival advised students to continue to strive to excel. He also congratulated the 507 graduates on successfully completing the six month programme, noting that ventures such as YTEPP, CCC, and other such training programmes embarked on by the government, only proved Government’s commitment to empowering and educating the young people of this country.