Dear Editor,

“The heights by great men reached and kept/ Were not attained by sudden flight,/ But they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.” These are sound words from 19th century poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Let me once again congratulate all the students, particularly those from the Ramble All-Age School in Porus, Manchester, who sat the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and were placed in a secondary school. Let me highlight that success is not based on the school where one is placed, but the fact that one is moving up the educational ladder.

Many students and parents are disappointed in the GSAT results. Students hoped for placement in a particular school and may not have been placed in the school of their choice. As the famous Christian song says, “Be not dismayed whatever betide”, let us know what we are about and move forward. There's nothing positive to be gained by worrying about what might go wrong. Put your energy into arranging for things to go the way you intend. Enthusiastically embrace life as it is, with all the ups and downs, for within the context of life as it is, you can make it truly outstanding.

Of course you cannot control every influence upon your life. However, you can prepare and position yourself to respond intelligently, purposefully and positively to whatever comes your way. If your life is not living up to your very highest expectations, there are countless ways to make improvements. Choose to act, choose to improve, and bring your own special excellence to life regardless of the disappointment you face.

So parents, teachers and church leaders, let us embrace all our young ones moving up the educational ladder at this time. Let us show them what exactly they are worth. Let us encourage them to live each day with the courage of their own special, beautiful possibilities. Teach them to give their best always, for that will redound in fulfilment.

Ragjhon Brown

ragjhonbrown@gmail.com