radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Use adversity as an opportunity for success, principal of Debe Secondary School Romeo Gunness said as his school honoured their lone scholarship winner Shiva Balliram during their Divali celebration yesterday.
Balliram is the first pupil in six years to win a scholarship at the school, after his cousin, Shanisa Sabdarali won a scholarship in business studies in 2012. Praising Balliram for his assertiveness, discipline and self-motivation, Gunness said Balliram was an example of someone who used adversity as an opportunity.
Gunness said under his stewardship, Debe Secondary students have excelled with 100 per cent passes at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and 85 per cent at Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).
“We need order and discipline in everything. Here in Debe Secondary, we create an environment for learning where we emphasise discipline, spirituality, hard work and perseverance,” Gunness said.
He said students who face adversity must become motivated by their difficulties.
“No matter the situation you can use adversity to motivate and propel you for excellence,” Gunness said.
Balliram, in an interview, said he used to travel home after school, taking two taxis to reach to Mt Stewart Village in Princes Town. He said he never found travelling difficult.
“When I got home, I would eat dinner and take a one-hour rest and after that, I would do my work consistently until about 11 pm,” Balliram said. He added that he never took extra lessons but worked with his school teachers Kavita Dhanraj, Sheryl Ragbir and Lal Jaimungal. His Dean Indira Boodram guided him from Form One and Balliram said his principal was his mentor.
“He would tell me to put order and decency in everything and this is what I used as my personal principle,” Balliram said.
He noted that his parents Bissoondial and Rekha Balliram were very supportive of him and encouraged him to achieve his goals.
Balliram added that his grandmother Diamattie Beharry also gave him guidance.
Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, who spoke at the event, urged pupils to be inspired by Balliram’s success.
“I am hoping that Shiva will inspire you. He is a role model and whatever you feel you cannot do well in schools, test, books, always reflect on Shiva’s own life,” Moonilal said.
He added that there is a perception that some people cannot excel because of their looks, the community they live in or the school they attend.
“This is not always true. All of you are capable of excelling,” Moonilal added.
He told students they must always believe in themselves, adding that he will arrange for Balliram to get a special token of appreciation for his success.
