Inspirational addresses by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, Jamaica Observer and ATL Group Deputy Chairman Adam Stewart, as well as valedictorian Angellino Paddyfoot added to the pomp and pageantry that marked Prospect College’s 62nd annual graduation service on July 14.

As staff, parents, well-wishers and distinguished guests from the political and business communities gathered on the college’s well-kept lawn in St Mary to share in the occasion, the seven graduates stood with pride and composure for the duration of the nearly two-hour ceremony.

In addition to Cadet Captain Paddyfoot, the graduates — who hailed from St Ann, St Elizabeth, and St Catherine — were Tyrique Brown, Errol Brown, Jonathan Tulloch, Chadaine Robinson, Jace Mitchell, and Jamar Bruce.

“The most important thing you can accomplish in this life is mastering yourself, and you can only do that when you know who you are and understand the principles you choose to stand for,” Sir Patrick said.

“Spending time with yourself is an essential means of evaluation. Having an idea of who you are affords you the opportunity to make better decisions for yourself and for others around you. This level of self-awareness will be the context of your purpose and contribution to your country and allows you to understand the areas for improvement — both on an individual and also on a collaborative level,” he added.

He advised the young men to persevere in the face of life’s challenges.

“There are times when you will feel as if you have failed. Do not despair. Do you know that the lion, when he goes out to hunt, will fail between seven to 10 times before he actually catches anything? Do you know that 85 per cent of his life, on average, is failing? So what makes him the king? One word — perseverance. And I want you to remember this, that your comeback will always be greater than your setback,” he said.

In his address, Stewart advised the graduates to focus on their attitude and find their passion.

In a short, but punchy speech, Stewart said: “I have a very simple philosophy on life and it goes like this: Life is an attitude, you can choose to be positive, you can choose to be productive, you can choose to be a part of something bigger than yourself — whether that is your country, religion, the company you work for, or one in which you may go and work.”

He encouraged the cadets to join the Jamaica Defence Force, describing it as one of the best-run institutions in the world.

He said that coupled with the right attitude, the graduates need to search for what they were good at.

“Behind that, I would also advise you to find your passion. I am a huge believer that the man above, the Almighty, gave each and every one of us a gift. Sometimes people don’t recognise their gift because it comes so naturally to them. Some people are people persons, some people are good with numbers, some people are good with children, some people are good agriculturally. But your role at this stage, if I were in your shoes, is to search for that gift. If you don’t yet know what your gift is, just remain conscious and it will come to you,” Stewart said.

Brimming with confidence, Paddyfoot took to the podium and lauded the excellent training that he and his fellow graduates received at Prospect.

“We, the 2018 batch of graduates, are honoured to have walked the hallowed halls of Prospect College. We have been well trained, well groomed, well equipped, to add value to any organisation with which we will be associated. We will take the integral core values learnt at Prospect College wherever we go in life,” Paddyfoot said, pointing out that among those values were respect for authority, honesty, humility, punctuality, integrity, discipline, and hard work.

The semi-military high school was founded in 1956 by British philanthropist Sir Harold Mitchell. Its students are expected to display the highest level of discipline.

With only 12 cadets accepted on average each year, entry into Prospect is highly competitive. But students who pass the entrance test attend the college at no expense to their parents. Their studies are fully funded through the Mitchell Green Foundation, which is headed by Peter Green, Alexander Green, and Andrew Green.

Subjects offered at Prospect include CSEC Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, Information Technology, Integrated Science, Human & Social Biology, Social Studies, Principles of Business, Principles of Accounts, and Music Theory.

Students are also trained to sit the Royal Schools of Music examination, regarded as one of the most prestigious in the world.

Last year, the college boasted a 100 per cent pass rate in Information Technology, Principles of Business, Integrated Science, Social Studies and Principles of Accounts, with commendable pass rates in English Language, Mathematics, and Human and Social Biology.

At the end of the ceremony, the college’s proud headmaster who served as moderator, Gregory Wint, expressed satisfaction with the proceedings.

“I am very pleased with the graduation,” he said. “To have had his excellency the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, governor general of Jamaica delivering the main address to the graduates, along with Mr Adam Stewart also addressing the graduates and, by extension, the entire student population, was just awesome,” Wint said.

“To have had the minister of labour and social security at the same graduation address the students was also humbling. In addition, to have had so many dignitaries sharing with us was amazing and we thank them all,” he added.

Wint, who credits the college with transforming shy young men into confident, responsible individuals, said there is more that the college will do for the graduates to assist them with job placement and furthering their education.

“I am extremely pleased that the graduates have not only done very well academically, and been very receptive to the training, but importantly all graduates are already on a path of continuous development after the graduation ceremony. So they will all be meaningfully engaged after the ceremony,” he said.