Who knew that National Commercial Bank (NCB) President & Group CEO Patrick Hylton rolled out a piece of sponge every evening in the living room of his sister’s one-bedroom Duhaney Park home. That was his bed as a student. Nor were many aware that he had bus fare, but no lunch money; or that he was told by his accounts teacher that he would never pass the subject? Indeed, who knew that his deputy, Dennis Cohen, once climbed trees to pick mangoes, attended Rollington Town Primary School, and dreamed of scoring a place at Kingston College?

These were just a few of the life notes shared by two of the region’s most formidable bankers with 10 top grade six students from Seaward Primary, Elletson Primary and Kindergarten, Holy Family Primary and St Francis Primary & Infant — all part of the NCB Foundation Adopt a School Programme.

Laughter filled the boardroom as each regaled childhood shenanigans. The students hung on to their every word. Hylton is a man who, given the opportunity, could have reeled off quotes all afternoon long — His mum, a teacher would send him off to school each day with pearls of written wisdom. He expressed to his young charges that his favourite quote is by Henry Wordsworth “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight…,” which was quickly snatched by the students who almost drowned him out as they joined in … “but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.”

“Work hard”, encouraged Hylton. “Use every opportunity to make better of yourself. Wish massive success for yourself. When the accounts teacher advised me to sit out accounts I was not daunted. I went to Sangster’s Book Stores and purchased Principles of Accounts Part 1 & 2 and spent an entire weekend immersed in it until I passed the subject with distinction.” His takeaway was that, “All of us as individuals are the masters of our destiny. Somebody’s opinion of me does not determine who I am.”

“Were you ever afraid to fail?” asked Rihanna Ellington of Elletson Primary & Infant School. “I guess I was, at times” came the response but I was more determined to succeed. “How did you get this job queried Tessanne Linton, and how did you feel? “ Great,” was his immediate response, “Did you feel that someone else ought to have got it?” “Not really. I felt good that when the oportunity presented itself I was ready.”

It was a no-holds-barred session with students pausing only to enjoy the four-course fare of Alexa Von Strolley for Tooksie Kay Catering, which was, thankfully, delicious enough to allow the executives time to prepare for the second barrage of questions.

Students dined on fried cream cheese and jerked chicken salad with honey vinaigrette, butternut squash bisque with balsamic reduction, coconut cream and parsley oil, chicken roulade with cornbread and sage stuffing, pan-seared snapper, caramelised autumn medley, and potato mousseline. Dessert was banana bread with sugar brittle and vanilla ice cream.

“ I can’t help but be reminded that I was exactly like you,” said Dennis Cohen, as students delighted in the meal. “ I was exactly like you. Chase your dreams, feel that passion; that desire to succeed, and aim high.” The chief financial officer & deputy ceo, NCB Group, referenced Alexander Graham Bell who, the result of his fascination with sound, would invent the telephone; and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who had challenges with a formal education.

Andrew Pairman, deputy chairman, NCB Foundation, stressed the importance of giving thanks. He also encouraged students to give their best in all that they do. I once packed shelves at Sainsbury’s grocery store in London. I had the glorified title of assistant merchandiser, but that’s all it was. “I did the job to the best of my ability, and to this day I am able to know when goods on a supermarket shelf are effectively displayed”

Students shared with the executives their career ambitions. Nkumma Kerr of Holy Family Primary & Infant School saw himself as an economist, while Jahmare Findley of Seaward Primary felt his calling was the church. “ I want to rid Jamaica of violence by praying.” He informed. His schoolmate Kemica Scott wants to become a teacher, while Shenell McCarthy-Samuels, of St Francis Primary & Infant School, shared her enthusiasm for paedriatic surgery.

Once again, came the emotional plea for less violence in Jamaica. Indeed, the three-hour lunch was both an eye-opener and a welcome respite for the children.

Budding singer Tessanne Linton entertained all gathered with the gospel song You Deserve It .

Lunch closed with the obligatory photo-ops and each child received an NCB gift bag plus a Chocolate Dreams cake pop from Nichole Brackett Walters, marketing and communications manager, NCB Group.

The more, however, was the positive reinforcement. The unique opportunity afforded by the ApplaudIt! initiative to sit with the captains of industry around their boardroom table will never be forgotten. “I will,” said Dwayne Mitchell, head boy of Seaward Primary & Junior High School, “tell as many students as possible the importance of living within their means, of building their vocabulary, and that we are as strong as our struggle [pearls of wisdom from Dennis Cohen].” He will find an ally in his numeracy teacher Gracie-Ann Moss-Solomon, who, in thanking the NCB team, spoke to the “force against them [the students] becoming someone” “This is an amazing initiative, and I certainly Applaud It!”

NCB supports a total of 34 adopted school. The Jamaica Observer Applaud It! initiative now in its fourth year has moved from one week to three due to the overwhelming support of corporate Jamaica