AFTER receiving an honorary doctorate during Friday’s graduation at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech), Grammy-winning dancehall artiste Sean Paul Henriques urged the Class of 2024 to embrace change, adapt to life’s challenges, and dream big as they embark on their next chapter.

Speaking on day one of the two-day graduation exercises, Sean Paul, who was awarded with the Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa, told graduates to focus on aspirations that will positively impact the country.

“You all have dreams, too, and I implore you to focus on the positives,” Sean Paul said.

“Simply put, if your dream negatively impacts your surroundings, the planet, or people in it, then it’s time to make adjustments. You don’t want to be a part of the existing problems,” he urged.

The artiste, who was born and raised in Kingston, reflected on how his own dreams evolved over time. He reminded the graduates that, just as he did, they, too, will encounter changes and challenges that could reshape their paths.

“My message to you, the class of 2024, today is: Don’t be afraid to dream big, learn to adapt, and remember changes are inevitable,” he said.

Sean Paul, who once walked the same campus as a young man, uncertain about his future, said he was inspired by how much UTech has expanded and evolved over the years. He reminisced about his time at what was then the College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST), where he initially enrolled in the hospitality and tourism management programme.

He said he had aspirations of becoming an architect but admitted that he did not have the grades needed to fulfil the degree requirement.

Ultimately, his passion for music led him to leave before completing his studies.

“During those formative years, I learned [that] the only constant in life is change, and I embraced that fact. I did my best riding the waves of change, experiencing highs and lows, but determined that one day things would be more secure for me and steadier for my family,” he said.

Despite the initial detour from his current career path, Sean Paul said his time at UTech laid the foundation for the work ethic and discipline he would later apply to his music career. He spoke about how his days at the university were filled with studying, contributing to his family, and exploring new experiences that shaped his future success.

He described how his years at UTech were packed with learning and growing in various fields — from cooking in the kitchen to managing at the front desk — and how those formative experiences prepared him for the challenges he would face later in life.

“Back then I was a blank canvas; I didn’t know what the painting would turn out to look like or the future would turn out for me, but I was committed in giving my best efforts in whatever it was, regardless of the outcome,” he said.

Drawing from his own career in entertainment, Sean Paul encouraged the graduates to stay resilient. He acknowledged that the music business, much like any industry, can be full of setbacks and disappointments.

“Someone in the music business once told me: ‘You are ideally suited to this business, which is fraught with ego, shattered disappointments, and broken promises,’ but I did not give up, and neither should you,” he encouraged.

Sean Paul’s honorary doctorate recognises his significant contributions to music, culture, and philanthropy. Renowned for hit songs like Gimme the Light, Get Busy and
Temperature, his influence on the global music scene was emphasised during the ceremony.

With a career spanning more than three decades, Sean Paul has earned numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award, multiple Billboard-charting singles, alongside national and global recognition for his role in popularising the dancehall genre.