Graduates - stay focused and upbeat in these tough economic times

FRIDAY, JUNE 29: This week I’ve been able to share in the joy of so many celebrations.

Last Monday’s Generations show was dedicated to celebrating the outstanding achievements of our young people.

Proud parents and other family members sent in advance e-mails to be shared over the airwaves, while other proud relatives called in to share.

After reading 30 messages, I was once again elated to know that despite the acts of negativity being displayed by some of our youth, many are excelling in various areas of their lives — sports, community, church, and academics, to name a few. 

It has been such a pleasure to hear the voices of some of the former guests who have appeared on the show since it started on January 16, and to hear updates on their lives.

The good news is that all of the former guests who called in are well on their way to pursuing the very goals they said they were trying to attain a few months ago. All have remained on positive paths. All are heading to college.  This is wonderful news.

On Tuesday I sat proudly among the audience to witness the Adult Education School’s graduation ceremony and to share in the joy of my oldest student, to whom I had to say goodbye when I closed my home school in December.

He has now acquired his GED and has an exciting series of events ahead of him this summer before becoming a full-time student at Bermuda College.

I was in awe at the number of males graduating from the Adult Education School in the sea of 41 royal blue caps and gowns. It was clear by sentiments expressed that many of them had personal experiences which could have easily led them down another path. But they were there, proud to have achieved their General Education Diploma — their passport to the next phase of their lives.

Personal stories

I couldn’t help but wonder, as I listened to a few personal stories, why they had been let down by a system that is supposed to encourage and support them.

There were many touching moments during the graduation, including the tribute paid to one of their peers who should have been with them to receive his diploma, but rather who was senselessly taken from his family and graduating peers at the hands of a killer. Sobs could be heard around me.  

Where will the graduates go from here with their dreams? As an adult who is now also faced with employment challenges for the first time in my life, I can only encourage all graduates to try their best, stay focused and try not to be discouraged in these tough economic times when jobs are pretty much non-existent for them. 

Congratulations to every young person who has worked hard and who has a reason to celebrate no matter how small your accomplishment. To all others, I encourage you to find someone to whom you can talk and ask them to help you map out a path toward a successful future. It’s not too late.

The live Generations radio show is going on summer vacation and will return on Monday, September 10. But I encourage you to tune in every Monday on Mix 106FM from 7:30pm to 9pm throughout the summer to hear some of the best radio shows that you may have missed featuring some of my past memorable guests as well as to gain valuable, helpful information.

In the meantime, I wish you all a super summer. Have lots of fun but don’t forget to engage in things which will help you now for the future.

• Shawnette Somner is the host of Generations, which airs on DeFontes’ Broadcasting Company’s MIX106 FM. Send comments and show ideas for the next season of Generations to: [email protected]