The youngsters were hosted at a special meeting of the Rotary Club of New Kingston last Friday (March 27) dubbed Breakfast With A Leader held at the Pegasus Hotel. In attendance were students from Constant Spring Junior High, St George’s College, Holy Trinity High, Mona High School, St Francis Primary, Kingston High and Trench Town High schools.

Addressing the youngsters on some of the tenets of good leadership, retired business leader Mr. Jimmy Moss Solomon said leadership is not a spectator sport, but a disciplined art that required participation, non-conformist thinking, boldness, initiative, encouragement, a commitment to change and the reinforcement of positive values.

Mr. Moss Solomon told the students that many persons we salute as leaders, including our national heroes, were at some stage chastised for their non-conformist thinking. He challenged the youngsters not to simply accept the status quo but seek to make qualitative changes, adding that oftentimes the changes we see are more disruptive and destructive. He encouraged the students to develop a broad range of skills, noting “it is possible for you to be an outstanding athlete, musician and a successful professional.”

He urged the youngsters to always seek to be recognized by doing more of the things which are right, not less. Meanwhile, Rotary Club President Dr John Lindo said the ‘Breakfast With A Leader’ initiative was not about just having young people share a meal with Rotarians and business leaders.

“More importantly, the occasion was one for structuring a sound relationship with our youth whereby good leadership values can be passed on to them so they can harness their own skills and talents in becoming more responsible citizens.” The club is to implement a structured programme whereby members will continue to interact with the youngsters as part of their long term development.

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