Graduates urged not to embrace the get rich, die young mentality

“Achieving excellence through diligence”: so was the theme of the 2007 graduation ceremony of the St. Vincent Grammar School (SVGS) 2007.

Feature speaker Akin John, Barrister-at-law and former student of the school gave an uplifting speech to the graduates. John beseeched not to embrace the mantra of rap superstar 50 Cent ‘get rich or die trying’ but instead to work hard, and build a sound foundation to the pursuit of positive goals.{{more}}



He said that he knows it has become the popular belief in modern society that being rich is a mark of excellence; however it is not the acquisition of wealth, but the way in which it is acquired that is a mark of excellence.

In his valedictory address, Student of the Year Daniel Campbell, – who also received awards for Integrated Science, Geography, English and Principles of Business – reflected on his years at the 99-year-old institution.

He spoke of sometimes wanting to cut classes after an extremely stressful week, but the thought of disappointing his parents was always in the back of his mind, keeping him on the straight and narrow. Campbell said that there is always a positive to be made from a negative, giving the example of the teacher shortage at the Grammar School, which helped them learn how to improvise.



Campbell, son of Queen’s Counsel Parnell Campbell and his wife Juliet said that on his first day of school, he was annoyed at boys not so much older than he trying to tell him where to go, but he soon came to realise that prefects weren’t strange and he actually formed friendships with them that have lasted to this day. He went on to say that he hopes the bonds of fraternity made at the SVGS would last.

Ending his speech on a high note, he noted that SVGS has tried to mould them into well rounded students who will be able to make a contribution to their beloved St. Vincent and the Grenadines. “I hope” he stated, “We turn out to be good men”. The St. Vincent Grammar School’s graduation took place at The St. George’s Cathedral on July 5th. (VM)