Lessons At Holy Cross College, Arima

One of the colleges I belonged to was Holy Cross College, in Arima, Trinidad, W.I. It was a learning establishment for me from 1965 to 1970. 

I, really it should be said, that my parents invested part of my teen years here, and it formed part of my upbringing.

Many of my lifelong friends belong to this institution as well. It is our home base. And this college with scores of students' intake every year lives on.

We Progressed

After we left college, as the years went by, we progressed with much effort and resilience. Through trial and error, we somehow made a life with the help of others, be it family or friends.

Ultimately, we arrived at our port, our destination. But we soon found out that life does not stop but pauses. And to become masters of navigating our ship, we ought to learn to steer through rough waters. It is part of the uncertainty of living.

What Are We Beset By

Life throws all kinds of curve balls at us. To become adept at hitting home runs only happens with an enormous amount of batting practice. And turning up to face the music, regardless of how the wind is blowing.

You see, this life entails a myriad of scenarios. We need to become familiar with the rough terrain as well as the smooth. To overcome we should learn what is required to run a triumphant race. It is a tough life.

Whatever We Are Handed

Whatever one is handed, one should become competent in making lemonade out of lemons. One can develop and become resourceful at overcoming. A strong faith and an unshakeable mindset of positivity will steer one always in the right direction to prevail.

Volunteering And Giving Back

What we have learned growing up is an invaluable resource for the uninitiated. We can then share our insight, in cooperation with our other alumni, to foster and bring about growth and development.

But we need to be careful. We will want to temper our know-how with love, compassion, and humility.

Learning To Share

Sharing is an art in itself. It takes tack and resourcefulness to not hurt and harm others with our knowledge. We want to be kind and considerate.

Opportunity Arises

Whenever the opportunity arises to share our knowledge and wisdom, let us do so with the utmost care. You see, we come from varied backgrounds and breeding. Some of us communicate within our cultivated boundaries. And that may differ greatly from others. That is the core and crux of the matter.

Taking The Time To Serve

When we volunteer to serve, we should assess the situation carefully first. Thereby, we can gather valid information before we arrive at any decision-making.

Consideration

Take into consideration and be mindful of the efforts of others. They contributed their time and other resources.

It could be that their contribution does not meet our standards. The thing to take notice of is that they gave of themselves. Perhaps their level of giving does not match up to ours and others. 

But, the thing to do is thank them for their services. Maybe within their present circumstances, they gave as much as they could. How can we tell? And if they fall short of the mark, remember life is an incubator to work out our abilities. 

Be A True Leader

Help others work out their shortcomings. Be a consummate leader. 

If your wife says or does something that you are not happy with, do you stop talking to her for ages? Do you sever ties with her? No! You continue your close relationship in the hope that things will work itself out.

So too we should treat our contemporaries and members of any team in which we are involved.

We are not looking for quick fixes. Volunteering and leadership take time and can be long-lasting. Are we willing to offer so much of our time? 

Praise Always

Give enormous praise always, and be steadfast with our ability to discern wisely. We can be a trusted and treasured servant-leader who leads from behind, inspiring and spurring others to right action.

Again be careful of what we sign up for? Our commitment is our pledge and we should be counted upon to deliver.