Once, many years ago, I stated that every-time a contingent of students leave our shores to pursue higher education abroad, I felt like a little piece of me was leaving with them. This feeling has remained with me over the years.
And even the times that I have traveled with the students, still on leaving them behind in their new country of residence, the feeling was the same .
And I have come to realize that the feeling has to do with the realization of the potential each cohort of students have for the future of our country. So there is that feeling of gladness and hope and expectations.
At the same time, I am all but too conscious of the pitfalls that can present themselves in the paths of these young people and the distractions they face. So there is also a feeling of apprehension.
Where the balance of these two tips in the favor of hope and expectation, is in the belief that most of our students have their minds focus on their study and where this is not yet the case, I encourage these students to refocus on what they have to do. Not because of what we the adults say, but because the decisions they make, especially those far away from home, will ultimately determine their future lives and careers.
The Government and the people of Sint Maarten have put a lot of trust in these young people, and my hope is that they not be disappointed. In the case of our young people, the future of our country, it is not ok to say: "you save some and you lose some". We want to save them all!
We want them all to accomplish great things. We want them all to come back with the knowledge and the determination to make something of themselves and their country.
This can only be realized by the students’ individual commitment to be the best at what they set out to do, by the support of the parents, even though they’re far away and by the community remembering our students and letting them know that we are rooting for them, all of them, and preparing for their return.
With this hope and confidence, I say farewell to the students departing for the Netherlands on Saturday, August 2, 2009 and I wish them God’s speed.
To the parents, I say, it will not be easy, but the time comes when we need to let go. Letting go does not mean letting loose. It means they make another step into adulthood and need your support every inch of the way.
Be strong for them and for yourselves. Our country needs them.