MINISTER OF EDUCATION Ronald Jones has told university students not to let success make them selfish.
Addressing an awards ceremony at the American University of Barbados, School of Medicine in Wildey, St Michael on Friday, he said one problem was that as people became more successful and more wealthy, there was a tendency to become more selfish.
He told the students not to lose sight of their beginnings, to become more humble, more caring and more considerate as they moved towards their personal goals.
“You are important. Don’t allow that importance to make you less than human,” he advised.
He told the students not to confine university life to studying.
“As you work towards your success, find some time to refresh your soul,” he suggested. “Reach out to others who are part of the human civilisation.”
Among the students honoured yesterday were those who made the Dean’s List – Kayla Odle and twins Karla and Kristen Callender.
Honoured for “academic excellence” were the three, as well as Fizah Chaudhary, Taymar Gittens, Maria Harpal, Lyandra Jones, Ruth Ann Singh and Alana Wharton.
The AUB opened its doors in February 2011 as an offshore medical school. According to associate director of student admissions, Lisa Neblett, students have been recruited from the Caribbean, the United States, Canada and Nigeria, with bids to attract students from the United Arab Emirates, India and Dubai.
The AUB is an associate concern of the Era Medical College and Hospital in Lucknow, India.
“Secondary school students who have successfully completed CXC can enrol in a five-and-a-half year programme whilst students with a degree qualify for our four-year programme,” Neblett said. (TY)