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National
cyclist and artist Michael Phillips smiles at students of
Providence Girls’ Catholic High School yesterday, during
an autograph-signing session. Phillips was the feature speaker
at the school, as the Trinidad Publishing Company’s
“Guardian in Education—Making a Difference”
programme continues. Photo: Lester Forde
By
Valdeen Shears-Neptune
Do not be upset or disappointed when someone tells you no.
Instead, rethink your strategy to get them to say yes. Bear
in mind, however, that in life, no one owes you anything.
This was just one piece of valuable advice given to eager
students at Providence Girls’ Catholic School during
Wednesday’s opening session of the Trinidad Publishing
Company’s “Guardian in Education—Making a
Difference” programme.
Renowned national cyclist and artist Michael Phillips addressed
the students in the school’s auditorium, offering not
only words of advice, but life experiences and how they
affected his character.
“Rethink
how you treat people and the kinds of relationships you
form. You never can tell from whom or when you may need
help,” he told the excited Forms Four and Five students.
Phillips recalled an incident a few years ago, in which
his prized antique car was hit from behind by a young female
driver.
He said the typical person would possibly have verbally
abused the woman.
His decision to placate her worry, however, ended up benefiting
him instead.
“Just
this year, I was before a committee trying to gain a source
of sponsorship, and at the head was this young woman who
was to determine if I would get it and who looked vaguely
familiar.
“She
acknowledged that it had been she who had hit my car, but
remembered my positive response to the accident.
“Had
I treated her harshly, chances are I would not have gotten
that sponsorship at all.”
Common courtesy, he said, did have a dollar value.
The students were encouraged never to be discourteous, unfriendly
or end up in situations where they were remembered as “not
being nice.”
Their good name, he told them, was their most valuable asset.
Phillips, who focused for a while on the topic of names,
admonished the society for the value it put on brand name
items.
He appealed to the students to create their own products,
as far as legacy and accomplishments were concerned.
Recalling a near-death experience and another in which a
friend’s daughter, who had several achievements to
her name before an untimely death, Phillips urged the students
to make an early positive impact in life.
“Become
your own brand name by leaving people with a good impression.
“Although
most of what you will learn here may never be used after
school, the environment and demands are not much different
from the workplace,” he advised.
When Phillips asked how many of them intended to be millionaires,
all hands went up. And how would they go about becoming
one?
One young lady said she would become a high-priced doctor.
Several said they would win the Lotto, and another said
through marriage.
His advice to them, however, was that they become passionate
about any God-given talent, find ways to turn their talent
into a business, balance their time, and save religiously.
“The
more you put in, the faster you will get there. You also
need to learn the difference between an asset and a liability.
“Instead
of buying a piece of KFC, why not buy into the franchise
and own a ‘piece’ of KFC?” he advised.
His artistic ability was also used as a teaching tool, displaying
a blank, black and eventually painted canvas, saying that
this was much like the process of character- building.
Phillips, who will hold his sixth solo exhibition next month,
then treated the students to a viewing of one of his new
pieces.
The school was then presented with a basketball and career
hand book, courtesy of the Guardian, after which Phillips
autographed book marks and magazines for the students.
In closing, Guardian’s marketing manager, Cyntra Achong,
informed the students of the benefits of winning the programme’s
essay competition—how to make a difference in your
life—which comprises student scholarship assistance,
a computer and printer, as well as a cash prize for the
school.
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