Montserrat Community College builds ceremonial tradition
For the second year beginning last year, the Staff and approximately 50 students converged on the St. James Anglican Church in Salem, Monday, processing from the College campus to participate in a Convocation ceremony to mark the start of the Montserrat Community College 2016-2017 academic school year.
Sometimes termed the ‘… Matriculation exercises,’ the opening assembly listened to the institution’s principal Professor Clarice Barnes, who in her welcome and opening remarks told the students, parents and guests gathered: “The success of the college and every student is the responsibility of the entire society and this could only be achieved through close engagement. This opening assembly marks the beginning of an academic journey that should end with benefits for students and the entire society.
“I have had the opportunity to speak to the majority of students who have registered and the most consistently stated reason for attending college is that of furthering education so as to achieve career goals.
“My dear students, your journey towards achieving those goals has begun. You have chosen the Montserrat Community College to horn you at this critical time of your development. Our lecturers are committed to doing their very best to go the extra mile to facilitate your success at this stage of the journey. While preparing you for the next.”
The principal also early in her remarks explained: “Opening Assembly or Convocation is a tradition that is observed in many colleges and Universities around the world. This is a special ceremony to formally accept, orient, and inspire new and returning students…Students have walked the distance from the College to St James as a public act, symbolic of the determined and sacrificial efforts that they will put into making their studies successful.”
Anglican parish priest, Fr. Carlisle Vyphius led the invocation prayer followed by the Principal’s welcome and opening remarks, preceded by the national song.
Fr. Vyphius then made some remarks in which tips to the students while also soliciting parents that they too have some responsibilities to ensure the best for and from their children. He spoke briefly to tips on lateness, eating right and ensuring adequate sleep.
He encouraged students not to settle for mediocrity but always strive to excellence, suggesting good choice of friends and obeying rules of the institution, staying focused and finally admonishing, “read, read and read.
He spoke to the parents remind them to become involved with their children’s involvement, “letting them know that you care.” Listen and provide a study environment.
Mr. Allen Mullings introduced the featured Guest Speaker Professor Sir Howard Fergus who encouraged the students to widen their scope as they search for career opportunities.
On a background of students leaving Montserrat Secondary School (and the College) being told almost routinely recently, “get out and be entrepreneurs”, Sir Howard told the students and parents, “The Topic I have chosen for this discourse is simply: “College is Serious Business.”
He said he used “‘college’ here to mean the third level of education whether you are obtaining the foundation knowledge for university or acquiring terminal capabilities which enable you to employ yourself and others and thereby contribute to the island’s development,” offering four reasons for “this statement or proposition.”
“First, you have the privilege of accessing fulltime college education at home, compared to youngsters 100 years, indeed up to about 44 years ago…”
Secondly, education at this level is a major means of getting ahead in life, of improving your life’s condition, getting your foot on the ladder as you climb to higher levels in society…”
“Thirdly, college and university education is direct and definitive preparation for the knowledge, skills, capabilities and mind-sets that our country needs for its development…”
“Fourthly, college is serious investment on the part of government, of your parents and of yourselves…”
You can find the full text and the speech at www.themontserratreporter.com.
He gave the students such other pointers referring to an earlier discourse regarding an appointment. “…all I am seeking to do is to impress on you that by taking your studies seriously you can put an end to the need for such debates or at least dull the edge of such debates by preparing yourselves for important positions in our country,” he told them.“
“Gain qualifications and capabilities not just for the so called white colour job but for business development and management,” he cautioned, ending that seriousness was not all that mattered. “Having said all that, I am not suggesting that your programme be confined to a diet of seriousness. On the contrary, whether it is co-curricular, intra-curricular or extra-curricular, I believe that each student should engage in some cultural art either at the level of practice or appreciation. It could be music, dance, creative writing or even a sport. And it is a mistake to think that the arts are soft on intellect; they are more than feemling, fantasy and dreaming.”
The principal handed out awards towards the end of the assembly which was effectively punctured with songs and hymns with Miss Anne Marie Dewar at the organ.
Tuyen Osborne and Octavia Crandon both received the principal’s award. Others received SRG achievement awards; Delta Petroleum Award as well as one going to the most outstanding student 2015-2016. Several other donors were recognised on the program leaflet, the event closing with a recessional of the principal, faculty and students.
