The multiple world and Olympic gold medalist, whose records in track and field’s three sprint events is so far unbroken, was visiting the Camporee last Wednesday and, as was expected, received a rousing welcome from the hundreds of Pathfinders representing more than 52 countries worldwide.

Mr Bolt, who told us that his mother is Seventh-day Adventist, was there to give a motivational talk to the Pathfinders. What he imparted to them was significant in the context of the sense of entitlement that is becoming pervasive among too many of our young people, and indeed adults, in recent times.

“I am just here to give you some encouraging words to always work hard and never give up. Believe in yourself, believe in your dreams. I am from the country [rural area], I never knew I would be this great, but I continued working and pushing hard,” Mr Bolt said.

“God gave me a talent and I used it to the best of my ability. So I just want to say give all the glory to God,” he added.

Our journalist at the Camporee reported that deafening cheers greeted Mr Bolt’s address — an encouraging sign, even as some people may argue that he was speaking to youngsters who are already on a path that takes them wide of deviant behaviour. That conclusion could easily be strengthened by the fact that the five-day Camporee equips participants with life skills geared at physical, social, mental, and spiritual development.

However, we cannot ignore the reality that young people are impressionable and susceptible to temptations that can lead them astray.

History is replete with examples.

That, therefore, gives responsible individuals reason to sustain the promotion of positive messages that can help transform youngsters into model citizens.

Based on the responses to Mr Bolt’s charge it is obvious that he inspired many of them to apply themselves, with discipline, in order to achieve their dreams. Inviting him to speak to the Pathfinders was, therefore, a good decision which, we hope, will be replicated by other organisations calling on the knowledge and experience of the many other Jamaicans who, like Mr Bolt, can motivate young people in particular to distinction.

Commendations must also be given to Ms Mikir Brown, the dean of discipline at Robert Lightbourne High School in St Thomas who, after reading this newspaper’s story on ex-convict Mr Elvis Thomas a few weeks ago, invited him to talk to students at the school.

An account of that engagement is published in today’s edition and we are encouraged by the responses of the students to Mr Thomas’s appeal to them to avoid a life of crime.

As we suggested before in this space, Mr Thomas’s message could be powerful if the authorities are able to develop a formal and sustained programme under which he and other Jamaicans with similar experiences have frank discussions with young people in schools, community groups, and other places where youth gather, in order to sway them from deviant behaviour.

Such efforts can’t be too many.