Hello there to you my readers! Well, I am very pleased to be writing this article- my first piece this New Year and I would like to thank everyone who have supported me this past year and I hope that I will have your continued support this year. 

This week, I would like to speak about positivity and renewed mentality for the New Year, because in order for us to become better individuals holistically we have to embody these traits. Well, like they say ‘old habits die hard’ but it is my belief that nothing is impossible as long as you are positive and your mentality is stimulated to be faithful and work hard. I won’t lie, this year I am pretty sure that I won’t get rid of all my unbecoming traits; but that doesn’t mean that I won’t try. The same applies for you all and believe it or not this right here is a perfect example of being positive and renewing your mentality.
Very common in our Guyanese society is the abuse of alcohol. This is a very big problem in our society and it reflects badly upon your character. Most of the times those people who do these acts justify it by saying alcohol is a means of ‘escaping’ their problems. It all comes right down back to your mentality. If you have the mentality that alcohol is the relief to your problems – instead of learning and moving on, you indulge in unbecoming acts of alcohol abuse. To you my fellow youths, just because someone you know does this, doesn’t make it right; be a leader and tell them the right things to do and the effects of continuing with this. Let’s help change this mentality.
Another very common issue in our Guyanese society is racial prejudice. Why is this so? Why does the fact that we have different backgrounds divide us? How does being differently ‘coloured’ make us different from each other? We are all the very same. We have to move away from this horrible mentality and really see that we are One People, One Nation, One Destiny. Again, it all comes back to your mentality and again I am imploring you youths to be leaders and help to cut off this chain of discrimination.
So let’s start this year with a positive outlook on everything in life and let’s all have a good mentality towards everything also, especially the above mentioned issues. I wish you all the best for this week especially those of you heading out to school and remember to set goals for yourself and we all have to do better this term
Quote of the week: (by Walt Whitman)
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you.”
Good bye! See you all again next week right here t your favourite and best newspaper.

(By Vishani Ragobeer)