— First lady urges students of BV Secondary School

FIRST Lady Sandra Granger on Friday morning encouraged students of Beterverwagting Secondary School to make informed choices and follow their dreams as they grow into adults.

Mrs Granger issued the charge in the school’s auditorium, while at the time speaking at the Buxton Arts Theatre School awareness programme.

“We all have dreams of who we want to become in life, so hold onto those dreams and know that each one of us is born with special gifts and the trick is to find out what those gifts are and use them to help yourself to grow and become the best you can be,” she said.

Mrs Granger told a filled-to-capacity auditorium at the school that students should know themselves and not allow others to define them.

On that score, she urged the students to make true friends and not to follow those who will lead them astray.
Mrs Granger thanked the Buxton Arts Theatre for the invitation to address students on Friday and said it was timely, given the negative images that have been emerging of young people on social media recently.
She explained that the young people today are experiencing greater challenges compared to those in her younger days.
Back then, she said, they lived very simple lives and adults were the guardians of society, and they used to correct young people who go down the wrong path.

Students and teachers of BV Secondary School performing a skit

“And you dare not tell your parents you are likely to get more punishment because you embarrassed them and also done something wrong.”

She related that today a lot of things have changed and most parents go out to earn a living and would object if others chastise their children for wrongs committed.

She pointed out that it is very different nowadays, noting the attitude of some parents towards the wrongdoings of their children.

The First Lady noted that nowadays, every schoolchild has a cellphone, or some device and they spend more time communicating on their cellphones, rather than actually speaking to each other.

She also warned the students that “what you put on social media never goes away”, pointing out that “even if you delete it from your cellphone, some else has it, so you need to be careful with what you say and put on social media.”

The Buxton Arts Theatre is a dramatic group of 25 members and was formed 10 years ago.

The group’s motto is “Drama is a part of us and we live it.” Members strive to make a positive impact on the lives of youths, especially schoolchildren.

Some students of Beterverwagting Secondary School performed several skits on Friday geared at encouraging students to take their studies seriously.