By Sue-Ann Wayow
DO NOT use poverty as an excuse for not becoming successful in life.
This is the advice coming from Professor Dilip Dan who said honesty, hard work and sacrifice will eventually pay off.
Prof Dan, a Deputy Dean at the University of the West Indies, and head of several medical organisations was the feature speaker at the first Mayaro Legacy Awards 2022 on Thursday night.
The gala event hosted by the Member of Parliament for Mayaro Rushton Paray was held to honour nine distinguished individuals originally from the constituency who have made an indelible mark nationally and internationally.
The ceremony was held at BpTT’s Resource Centre in Mayaro.
Prof Dan admitted when he was asked to be the feature speaker, he wondered what could he possibly say to the awardees who were also distinguished and proven speakers.
The list of awardees included former politicians Jack Warner and Winston Dookeran.
Then he said, he was told by Paray to speak to the young people who needed to be inspired, motivated and guided in the right direction.
He focused on three main areas: responsibility, education and self-determination.
Reflecting on growing up in a rural community, he said the upbringing was very different 50 to 60 years ago with strong value systems, supervision from school and other villagers and children adding to the workforce of the family.
Prof Dan said, “We recognised early that assuming responsibility was a key element to success. This is one trait that successful and respected leaders must possess.”
He admitted that modern parents, including himself, have not allowed their children to assume responsibility by over-providing, over-protecting and yielding too easily to their wants and desires.
“We of that older generation wanted to give our kids all that we did not have so that they won’t face the struggles we faced,” Prof Dan said.
Corporal punishment being banned in schools and some parents afraid to scold their children, little interaction with neighbours all contributed to children’s lack of responsibility, he said.
Prof Dan said, “Unfortunately, the result is that much of the younger generation has attained a sense of boldface entitlement which is a difficult challenge to deal with as a society. We are seeing this in our schools, university, the workforce and society at large. This is just one factor of several to partially explain the decay in societal values.”
On the topic of education, Prof Dan said while the education system was being transformed positively due to the use of Information Technology, it can also be destructive as it created challenges with interpersonal relationships, physical inactivity and health consequences.
“Today’s opportunities for furtherance of education are immense and our kids must use them,” he said.
And using himself as an example, Prof Dan said despite everyone believing he was “a bright fella” he was actually a slow learner and had to work harder than others. Aiming high and not losing sight of the goal ahead was his inspiration to accomplishing great things.
As he ended his address, Prof Dan said, “As a final word to the young ones out there, do not make poverty an excuse for not being a successful individual.” Lift yourself by yourself. Work hard, honest, surround yourself with positive people, focus and don’t be afraid to fall.”
Paray in his remarks said he hoped the accomplishments of the nine awardees would serve as seeds, “which can be planted in the fertile hearts and minds of our young Mayaro constituents.”
“They must understand that struggle is a part of life and the process of living, but that struggle also leads to excellence,” the MP said.
