Over the past several years, we witnessed unprecedented improvements and continuous achievements in sports and academic performances at Holmwood. We watched with complete satisfaction as our alma mater captured national interest and gained international recognitions. We jumped in elation and embraced with amusement every time our athletes leaned forward and dashed through the finish line with their hands raised in victory. Yes, Holmwood is synonymous with winning: The waving of Jamaican flags in foreign stadiums says so, overwhelmingly.

However, as the students excel and the school gains more recognition, we are more committed than ever, in finding new ways to meet their needs. These successes reflect our strong support and set high standards that challenge us to respond with innovative and creative solutions.

An idea that came to mind recently is to encourage HPSA Chapters to establish a program exclusively designed to address the students’ financial needs, and provide mentorship to those lacking discipline and self-confidence. Such a program would provide well-needed aids, role models, and professional links with easy access to employment or higher education upon graduation. The program would also formalize similar students assistance currently provided by some members, and bring them all under one umbrella.

Many Jamaican families with children are living under extreme economic conditions and see High School education as an opportunity to overcome hurdles and as a key to better living standards. High School education does not automatically offer instant cures to financial problems by elevating one above the poverty level, but it takes four to five years of sound academics training to prepare a student for industry and the outside world. Some students are freewheeling; others are undecided but they all need help choosing the course or career that is right for them.

Mentoring is a one-on-one relationship such as that between an experienced adult and a student in need of guidance and development. These two individuals must develop strong rapport, mutual respect, trustworthiness and openness, at the same time being in full accord for the relationship to work. The student can benefit from the mentor’s teachings, good character, experience and professionalism. The student must nurture the willingness to learn short-term strategies that solve daily problems, and long-term goals for future development. Eventually, the student will gain the skills and confidence necessary to succeed, and henceforth contribute positively to his or her growth. The mentor benefits too, by sharing knowledge and experience, and the satisfaction of contributing to the student’s development.

The program being recommended is broken down into three parts: mentoring as previously explained; sponsorship and short-term adoption, all fashioned toward the students’ development; and to alleviate financial burdens thus freeing up their minds for learning.

Sponsorial arrangement is for the sponsor with little or no time to spend with the student. The sponsor would provide the student with a monthly allowance partially or totally covering lunch, books, tuition, boarding and transportation. Corporations and area industries can play key roles in students’ sponsorship by providing on-the-job career related training during school breaks, with promises to employ after graduation.

Short-term Adoption as the name implies, can last one year and upward to graduation, depending on time frame and objectives set. Although similar to sponsorship the adopter would be more involved, and promote a mentor-type bonding with the student. One may prefer adopting a poor family member, and use this opportunity to convey a well-needed gift to a child in attendance. Also, it is the strong feeling that many adopters will be so engaged with the child’s welfare that they would prefer to do their own mentoring.

Implementatation: Representatives from various HPSA chapters would form a committee to implement this proposal. The committee in collaboration with the school and office of the guidance counselor would develop guidelines and procedures for identifying gifted and talented students who are economically disadvantaged, and those in need of development and guidance. This proposal is aimed at the individual who wants to make a difference by giving directly to the student in need, while experiencing genuine satisfaction as the child progresses. This proposal will not interfere or undermine any current chapter-sponsored program, but rather to enhance their desire to continue the good work.

The office of the guidance counselor and H-SAMP would maintain a database frequently updated with the biographies of students and sponsors qualified for this program. Each chapter would aggressively undertake a massive publicity campaign designed to educate its alumni and the general public, especially area businesses that are owned and/or managed by our own alumni. Individuals interested in the program would be checked out, primarily to determine if he or she plans to serve the child’s best interest. If all goes well, the student and sponsor, mentor or adopter is ready to begin the program.

This proposed program would encourage one to sponsor, mentor or to adopt a student for a specific time frame or until the intended goal is reached. Like any benevolence program, this one will sow the good seeds of kindness and compassion in the minds of these young recipients. Perhaps, in the near future, a few of them might join ranks with fellow alumni and assist the next generation of students.

Anyone who finds this editorial interesting and willing to volunteer his or her time, effort and talent in H-SAMP implementation or participate through sponsoring, mentoring email me at cawsal@aol.com.