00:00There was celebration, pride, and reflection at the Movar Laventhal Secondary School
00:05as students marked a major milestone, graduation.
00:09But beyond the certificates and applause, the message delivered to the class was clear.
00:15Your story is still being written.
00:18Under the theme Unwritten Futures, the feature address challenged graduates
00:23to look beyond their circumstances and take ownership of what comes next.
00:28Where you come from is part of your story, but it will never be the limit of your story.
00:41And beginning today, the next chapter belongs entirely to you.
00:52Justice Frank C. Passard's address drew on the rich history of Laventhal,
00:57reminding students that from these very hills came one of Trinidad and Tobago's greatest contributions to the world,
01:04the steel pan.
01:06Pioneers like Winston Spree Simon transformed discarded oil drums
01:10into a globally celebrated instrument through creativity, discipline, and vision.
01:16From a community which many continue to characterize as being dangerous or troubled,
01:28young people created something so extraordinary that it is now celebrated on a global stage
01:40and is the symbol of Trinidad and Tobago.
01:45A powerful reminder, graduates were told, that greatness can emerge from places often unexpected.
01:54Greatness does not always begin in the places of the world that you expect.
02:04Often, however, it begins in the places where the world misunderstands.
02:13Justice C. Passard acknowledged the reality many students knew all too well,
02:19that Morvar and Laventhal are often associated with crime and social challenges.
02:25But that is only part of the story.
02:28On the one hand, the mention of these communities may invoke concerns about crime, gangs, and social struggle.
02:40On the other, they invoke images of rhythm, creativity, resilience, brilliance, cultural genius, and unlimited potential.
02:59These same communities have produced cultural icons, world-class athletes, and global ambassadors of Trinidad and Tobago's talent and resilience.
03:09And now, the responsibility to shape the next chapter lies with this new generation.
03:16Students were commended for their perseverance, navigating distractions and personal challenges to reach this moment.
03:23Some of you may have been taunted for simply coming to school.
03:31Others would have had to balance studies with responsibilities at home.
03:39And some of you had to remain focused, even in environments where pressures could have easily led you into a
03:53very different direction.
03:55But even as they celebrate, graduates were reminded that this milestone is not the end.
04:01It is the beginning.
04:02The choices they make now about education, work, friendships, and values will shape their future.
04:10That your futures have not yet been decided.
04:15However, they will be shaped by the decisions which you make from this point forward.
04:25They were urged to build lives grounded in discipline and integrity, understanding that success is not just about dreams, but
04:34about consistent effort and responsibility.
04:37And perhaps most importantly, that their actions will influence those coming behind them.
04:43Because change in communities like Mova and Lavantel, they were told, does not begin with speeches, but with example.
04:51As the graduates step forward into the next phase of their lives, one message echoed throughout the ceremony.
04:57They hold the pen.
04:59So, right of future defined by perseverance, right of future characterized by integrity, and right of future which is shaped
05:15by vision and discipline.
05:19Orvishita Wari Rupnerine, TV6 News.
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