Time for girls to take the lead – Justice Byer

It is time for girls to be in the lead!

And, there is nothing wrong with being a leader and nothing wrong with being considered bossy.

Those words were uttered last Friday by Justice Nicola Byer, who was delivering the feature address at the annual World Thinking Day Service at the Methodist Church in Kingstown.

“I am sure when you think of those girls who consider themselves leaders, we think of them as being loud, angry, aggressive…but we do not have to be seen that way or consider our female peers and friends that way,” Justice Byer told a gathering of mostly females.

SING ALONG: Brownies engaged in song at Thinking Day.

The judge, in her address, gave advice to young women who she said, should not be afraid to assert themselves and take the lead.

“Speak up in class. This may seem as a little thing, but this helps you to build confidence. It does not mean that you always have to know the answer or be one of those persons who likes to hear the sound of their own voice,” Justice Byer told the gathering of rangers, girl guides and brownies.

She said when someone speaks up, it shows those around that even if you don’t know the answer, you made yourself heard.

Justice Byer also encouraged the girls to stop apologizing when they speak.

RANGER GUIDE Tiffany Pierre (left), receives Chief Commissioner’s Award from Laura Browne, Chief Commissioner.

“We all tend to do that so it will go something like ‘I don’t know if you agree with me’ or ‘I am not sure if this is right, but’…

“Do not do it. When you are speaking, we need to have no apologies for our opinions, they belong to us. Never let another girl or boy or even a well-meaning adult look at you or make you feel bad or foolish for holding your opinion and speaking your opinion,” Justice Byer advised.

She noted also that it is important for girls to challenge themselves and never settle for mediocrity.

“Most importantly, never let anyone tell you that you must settle. Always push yourself a little more out of your comfort zone. Always know that the only block to your achievement is you. What you do and the choices you make are the only things that affect your progress,” Justice Byer noted.

She stressed also that persons must not be afraid to ask for help.

“We consider that leaders must always be self-sufficient, that is that we know everything. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“True leaders know their strengths and they know their weaknesses. When they face those, they can get the people around them to help. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of humility and recognition that you cannot live without each other as the saying goes, no man or woman is an island,” the judge told the gathering.

The judge also condemned chronic gossiping, and embraced friendship.

“All of us have indulged in gossip at one point or the other and unfortunately some of us more than others. If, however we allow ourselves to be always talking about someone as opposed to talking for them or even directly to them, we would always be cowards.

Justice Nicola Byer

“Cowards who hide behind the ‘he said, she said’ drama… you cannot be friends with everyone, but those who you are friends with make sure you speak for them and not about them,” Justice Byer advised.

She noted also that girls must learn to trust their inner voice while having a conscience, as these can act as a compass that keeps you on the right path.

“Follow some of the advice and you will make a difference and become a good leader.

“Bossy is only a word. Asserting yourself does not require aggression, get your point across without offence, use humour, inclusion, friendship and you will soon see how people would want to be with you and how they will want to spend time,” said the learned judge.

The annual Thinking Day ceremony was held under the patronage of Dame Monica Dacon, patron of the Girl Guides Association of SVG.

The call to service was made by Reverend Adolf Davis while performances were done by the Kingstown Anglican School Brownies (chorale speech), the No. 1 Guides Choir (performed a song called Brave), the No. 27 Dancers (danced to Fight Song) and the No. 29 and No. 17 Guide and Ranger choir sang “Rise up”.

Guider Tiffany Pierre collected the Commissioner’s Award.

World Thinking Day, formerly Thinking Day, is celebrated annually on 22 February by all Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. It is also celebrated by Scout and Guide organizations and some boy-oriented associations around the world. It is a day when they think about their “sisters” (and “brothers”) in all the countries of the world, the meaning of Guiding, and its global impact.