‘Time is not your friend’ – lawyer warns SVGCC graduates

“Time is not your friend!”

That declaration came on Tuesday, June 27, from lawyer, Duane Daniel, who in his feature address at the 14th annual graduation ceremony of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) encouraged students to always consider themselves as a work in progress and not to get lost in the wilderness of possibility.

Speaking at the event that saw 683 students graduate, Daniel had an abundance of advice for the graduands as he urged them to be honest with themselves when it comes to the pursuit of their passions.

“Remember well, that some direction is better than none at all…,” Daniel told students.

“If you know you are bookish and that is your strength, if you’ve had to fend off being called a nerd, embrace it, your day will come.

“If you find that you prefer to work with your hands, that you are more technically inclined and you are adept at a trade, that is equally valid, learn your preferred trade, get yourself certified, perfect it, take pride in the production and presentation of your work, success unbeckoned will come,” he advised.

“If you find yourself somewhere in between, or if you do not fit into the traditional mould, find your niche, develop you unique style and be prepared to be a pioneer…,” the local barrister told the graduating students at the Victoria Park where the ceremony was held.

Daniel, known for his exploits locally not only in law but in theatre as well, told the graduands that there are no roads without potholes, and no journey without pitfalls, but giving up is not an option to be considered.

“There will be distractions, disappointment and even failure, these things are experience, they build character.

“There is no shame in stumbling or falling, shame if any, lies in not learning from your stumble and your fall.

“When you rise up from that fall, you do so with the wisdom of knowing in the future where to put and where not to put your feet,” he stressed while adding that this may even include adjusting your direction or your destination.

“Rise and steady yourself with the goal ahead sharply in focus,” he said of persons who may fall, while warning the youngsters that the world does not wait on anyone.

“… Time is never your friend. It is a formidable foe. Equal yourself to the task of being a worthy and victorious adversary.

“Be very aware that some opportunities are not available past a certain age; you do not have all the time in the world to become your best,” Daniel warned would-be procrastinators.

The lawyer also told graduands that there is no substitute for a good plan.

“Carefully plan your stepping stones to the destination of your own choosing. He who has no destination is tragically unaware of his lack of progress.

“Any success he achieves is by the grace of luck and fate. Manufacture your own success, breathe it into existence by conscious action and preparation. Keep your eyes peeled for opportunity and when opportunity presents itself, hold on to it,” encouraged Daniel who has over 20 years of experience as a lawyer.

The vice president of the local Bar Association also told the graduands that they must learn the difference between the things they love to pursue that do not love them back, and the things they are naturally good at that they may not like to do.

“Make sensible choices with that information,” he stressed as he also encouraged students to always consider themselves a work in progress.

“Consider that the you you were when you started primary school is not the you you were when you started secondary school, nor is it the you you were when you started college…”, while adding that, “to be satisfied with who you are now, that is not enough. It is at this very moment that you cannot place limitations on who you can be.”

Daniel said that while the past is indeed prologue, the prologue is not the story, but only the introduction.
“… The backdrop, your story, is yet to be written,” he told graduands while also mentioning the theme for the graduation ceremony, “Behind you, your memories, before you, your dreams, within you, all you need to be you.”