SJC girls told: Choose light over darkness

President of the St Joseph Convent (Port of Spain) Past Pupils Association Laurel Lezama-Lee Sing at the schools awards function on Thursday advised students to choose light over darkness.

She said that every so often, episodes of unacceptable behaviour within schools such as bullying, fighting, disrespect to parents, teachers and those in authority, are seen on social media. “There is darkness, hatred, anger and suffering everywhere. But there is hope.” Lezama-Lee Sing told students they have a choice to choose either darkness or light and be an example of positive change, a change that they wish to see in the world.

She also told them to teach others how to be a “light worker” and help fight off the darkness that can settle into their souls and infect their minds and bodies, and as well, to practise loving forgiveness as a way of healing themselves emotionally and shine light on their own darkness. “Our value systems ought to be brought back.”

Saying that everyone has a sad personal story, which they must rise above to success, Lezama-Lee Sing gave the students her story of personal strife. She said that while in London in her final year in university, she got a call to come home to her sick mother and brother. Within months the latter died of his illness and her mother also passed soon after.

Becoming a bit emotional at this point, she said it was a tremendous challenge, but the time she spent with them was like a light in their eyes and so too, can students be a positive change in someone’s life. In closing, Lezama-Lee Sing commended principal Anna Pounder, teachers and parents for the excellence achieved by the students over the years.

Earlier, Pounder proudly said that the school had topped the country with 38 national scholarships, 15 open and 23 additional, and also copped numerous regional awards, with its students placing in nearly every subject, most notably being, first in economics at CAPE, first in maths at CSEC, first, second and third in history Unit 1, and first in geography, French, Spanish and physics.

“The rewards we enjoy are the result of numerous conditions here at SJC, the first being a solid foundation laid by the Sisters of SJC who worked to establish schools for the purpose of education for all, not only in TT but throughout the Caribbean.”

She also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education, school supervisors, current administrators, the parent support group and the Past Pupils Association, saying: “These stakeholders are our roots, whose strong support we cannot do without, and without whom we cannot provide the conditions for our students, the buds, to flourish.”