Hilary Robertson-Hickling

Across the United States and Canada students in high school, college and university are graduating in their thousands. A recent television clip showed President Bush giving the commencement address at Miami Dade College, and Oprah Winfrey speaking at Howard University. . There are many Caribbean students graduating from these institutions and their families here and there are very excited and wondering what the future holds. All have realised that an education is increasingly a very expensive thing.

The question is what is the significance of graduation at this time? Is it the banquet and the ball at the end and the related expenses, is it about the achievement of the student, is it about the development of the character of the students in the institutions? What do these graduates have to offer and what do they expect to receive?

Complex world

The world which they are entering is certainly complex; there are many problems like violence which is growing at the local and international levels, globalisation which can either produce crises or opportunities, and the need for new ideas to solve such problems as HIV-AIDS, global warming and unemployment. Many more of them will have to make choices about their sexual behaviour, the use and abuse of substances, the kind of relationships which they will establish, where they will live and their levels of consumption of goods which they create or just consume. The issues of identity are also crucial and their participation as citizens in their societies or in the international arena. Many more will have to become entrepreneurs and become more creative.

I recentlyhad the pleasure of speaking to Inderia Adjudah who will be a UWI graduate in 2007 and who is a member of the largest group of students who went to sixth form at Frome Technical High School and then attended universities in Jamaica. I encouraged her to write the story of their history- making experience. Many members of the class of 2007 will have to be pioneers and do new things to solve old problems.

Graduate plans

The class of 2007 will have to overcome the violence and other challenges in our world today. Many of them will be indebted, but they will have to recognise that the investment in their future has to be made. While our high schools will be holding their graduations before the summer holidays, our universities will have their graduations later this year. I hope that we will see the guest speakers on television and hear from our graduates about their plans. Problem solving, service, wealth-creation, creativity and gratitude must be part of their plans. They will have to fix the world they inherit and try to make the world a better place for their children and grandchildren. The class of 2007 is expected to be global in their worldview, more bilingual, technologically savvy, and more tolerant of diversity in their own society and elsewhere.

A significant part of their adolescence has been spent in the new millennium and century, and it appears that some of the same old challenges remain and new ones have come about. We need to bless them and support them as they make their way. Whatever their choice of career as athletes, musicians, entrepreneurs, doctors, nurses, politicians, they will have to utilise the knowledge and skills gained in the educational environment and apply them to improving the world.