Students urged to battle ‘through rough ways, to the stars’

Students of the St Vincent Grammar School have been encouraged to carry their motto ‘Per aspera ad astra’ throughout their lives and call upon it when people speak negativity into their lives.

The motto, which means, ‘through rough ways, to the stars’, was the theme of the feature address at the school’s 111th anniversary church service last Friday.

Dr Cecil Richards

The anniversary of the all-boy institution, September 21, was celebrated this year with a church service at the Kingstown Methodist Church and a march from there to the school at Richmond Hill.

“If you hear someone speaking negativity into your life, remember the story of David, because he had authority figures speak negativity into his own life. The only thing that kept him going was this mindset, ‘Per aspera ad astra’. He had a dream, he knew where he wanted to go,” Dr Cecil Richards, past student and guest speaker told the congregation filled with present students.

Richards, who is the pastor at the Kingstown Baptist Church used the story of David and Goliath to help bring his message to the boys, noting that David’s family and authority figures spoke negativity into his life.
He also said that the school’s motto has been a pillar of encouragement throughout his own life.

Elizabeth Walker,
chief education officer

“Those who are against you will not respect you,” he said. “Do not allow brothers or family members to talk negativity into your life…You are in the arena of battle already. Do not allow those who don’t have confidence in you, whether it’s a teacher, someone on the street, the neighbours, whoever, do not allow their negativity and lack of confidence sap your desires and your dreams.”

He also encouraged the boys to, like David, couple their mindset of ‘per aspera ad astra’ with their belief in God, who will protect them and take them through their times of difficulty.

Alfred John, the school’s headmaster said the school has been providing top quality education to the youths of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“… Many of its graduates have gone on to lead highly productive and successful lives so we have reasons to be joyful and reasons to show gratitude…to our God,” he said. “From its inception, the Grammar School was intended to offer liberal arts education patterned after that offered by similar institutions operated in Britain, our colonial masters. However, in the course of time, it’s curriculum has changed in response to the needs of our society.”

John encouraged the students to develop an attitude of appreciation and pay tribute to persons who have contributed to the school’s existence within the last 111 years by dedicating themselves to protecting the legacy of the institution.

“Do so with a spirit of humility and thankfulness, honouring all those who have helped to fashion this institution that is so dear to us and let us commit ourselves to the ideals of the school, expressed in its core values: respect, integrity, discipline, dedication, excellence and responsibility. May the school remain a beacon in our community, providing light to young boys trying to find their way in the darkness of ignorance,” the headmaster said.

Elizabeth Walker, the chief education officer, expressed congratulations to the school on behalf of the education ministry.

And she said that “111 years is not a small feat for an institution”.

“To have grown and developed over the years, it speaks of a rich history and St Vincent Grammar School has that rich history and the onus therefore is on the present students and teachers to continue that legacy; legacy of high academic performance, legacy of high moral standards and value,” she said.

Like John, Walker challenged the students to continue emulating the practices of the school, noting that holistic development is not just about academics but other factors as well.

Friday’s church service was punctuated with entertainment from the school’s worship team, student Darius DaSouza who performed a solo, and past student and pannist, Saeed Bowman.

Special greetings were also brought by the president of the SVGS Parent/Teacher Association, Susan Samuel and former headmaster, Curtis King.