Richard Forrester accepting his award. - Contributed
RICHARD FORRESTER is a dancer who has performed with the MultiCare organisation. He is also a skilled actor, having received a silver medal in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's (JCDC) speech competition.
Time and again we hear people complain that they are controlled by circumstances. 'Circumstances made me what I am' is the excuse. However, 17- year-old Richard refuses to be one of those persons who is a victim of circumstance.
A resident of Spain Avenue, also called Payne Land, Richard aims to be a surgeon. At present he is the Head Boy at Haile Selassie High School in the same community. He stated that at first he found this exciting; however, he soon realised that due to the responsibilities attached to the job, it also causes a lot of strain.
Additionally, when that is added to the time he has to allocate for schoolwork, he hardly has time for fun.
Richard is presently preparing to take exams in six subjects in the CXC exams at the end of this academic year. He is studying mathematics, English Language, principles of accounting, principles of business, social studies and biology. He realises that in order to reach his goal, he will need additional subjects and, as such, he plans to pursue physics, chemistry and sociology next year.
This is in spite of how difficult it is for him to study.
He describes living in Payne Land as 'hell'. "The gunshots distract me a lot," he said. "Every time the shots fire, I have to turn off the lights and go under the bed."
None of this deters him from his goal, however. He remarks that all you need is encouragement. This is something which he gets in abundance from his mother, loved ones and teachers, especially his principal, Ms. Barnett, whom he describes as his second mother.
He feels very grateful for all his teachers have done for him. He realises that they are simply doing their jobs, but it still feels personal to him. "People tend to say the schools in the ghettos aren't good schools, but it's not the school," he stated. "You have to set your mind to it and the teachers are there to guide you."
Richard recognises that he has to resist 'bad influences' which try to tell him that his dreams are futile.
"People who live in my community feel that because you come from the ghetto, you have to stay in the ghetto," he said, pointing out that he had no intention of remaining there. "I am willing to do whatever it takes to become a surgeon," he said passionately. "My main aim in all of this is to help people."
While he is aware that he will need to source funding to continue his education, Richard is not daunted. Quoting an old adage, he pointed out that he is aiming for the sky and, if he misses, he will at least hit the trees. "I know it will take a lot out of me," he says. "But anything is possible if you have God in front of you."
Richard started dancing several years ago when he attended Greenwich All Age school, where he performed the quadrille. When he began attending Haile Selassie, he was introduced to the work of the Multicare Foundation and so asked George Howard, lead choreographer for the group, if he could join.
So said, so done. Richard has been part of the group since then.
He points out that he loves dancing, and not just because it makes him more attractive to females, as it helps to build his musculature as well as his confidence.
"I love it!" he exclaims. "It motivates me and keeps me on my feet."
He remarks that even though there are those who attempt to give him a hard time because he is a male dancer, as Mr. Howard told him, "Only a fool would hide his talent."
As such, Richard has no intentions of stopping his dance.
The MultiCare Foundation, established in 1993, is a non-profit organisation. It is supported in its youth and community development endeavours by Cable & Wireless Jamaica Limited, Caribbean Cement Co. Ltd. And the ICD Group Ltd.
