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Former
Olympic medallist Ato Boldon signs autographs for St Joseph’s
Convent, San Fernando, students during a Guardian in Education
visit on Tuesday. Also with Boldon was principal Dinnara
Bainey. The tour is endorsed and supported by the Ministry
of Education and sponsored by the National Gas Company,
RBTT, BG T&T, Guardian Holdings Ltd and YARA.
Photo: Sookdeo Baney
By
Yvonne Webb
Principal of St Joseph’s Convent, San Fernando, Dinnara
Bainey, blushed as she took the hand of former Olympic medallist
Ato Boldon “to finally meet him in the flesh,”
and welcome him to her school on Tuesday.
As she led him into the auditorium, where close to 100 teenage
girls sat anxiously awaiting his motivational talk, made
possible through the Guardian in Education tour series,
the initial reception was lukewarm.
But when the girls were told about his track and field achievement,
the applause echoed in the room.
The applause accompanied screams as it was revealed he was
the holder of a pilot’s licence and the screams transformed
into shrieks upon hearing that he is soon to make his acting
debut opposite Hollywood mega star Bruce Willis.
The introduction of his multiplicity of talents, including
his role as a sportscaster, served to communicate to his
audience the opportunities that abound and the ability to
achieve greatness, regardless of the obstacles one may encounter.
“If
you have a goal, don’t allow anyone to affect your
desire to achieve it. Feel the fear, and do it anyway,”
Boldon told the gathering.
He said this is what had defined him, national cyclist Michael
Phillips, former Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliam, Olympic
bronze medal swimmer George Bovell III and cricket star
Brian Lara, who are also part of the tour.
“Those
moments, when you are totally terrified, when you can’t
sleep, when you can’t eat, when you feel those butterflies,
those moments are the most important moments, but also your
biggest chance to shine,” he said.
He drew a parallel with his own preparation for an Olympic
final and the sheer terror that often pervades his body,
mind and spirit.
“When
other people become tense and freeze up, that’s when
I exhale. I don’t focus on what will happen next. I
focus on the moment.”
Boldon said the most asked question on his web site was
his method of dealing with overcoming his anxiety before
a big event.
“I
have one answer, and that is, your body and your mind have
a built-in mechanism for when you have to perform. When
you have to perform at your best, your body starts to shut
down other things that you don’t need,” he said.
“When
that feeling overtakes you, whether it is an exam or whatever,
that is the moment your focus is at the best. That is the
moment that is going to define you.”
He told the students to “embrace that feeling of nervousness,”
advocating that the adrenaline rush they experienced by
so doing, “will save your life.”
Saying most people were afraid to face their fears and put
up barriers and mountains that deter them from achieving
their goals, Boldon told the young girls, “Life is
hard, get over it. People who succeed are strong-willed.”
Faced with such a situation, he urged the students to “Find
a way to use your God-given talent to get over that mountain.
When you get past it you will look back and say that was
not difficult. Bring on the next mountain.
“That
is what determines success; that is how you will grow from
young girls to women.”
Telling the girls they were a special bunch, Boldon said
many of them were gifted and blessed with a multitude of
talent, but chose to focus only on one.
“I
was fortunate to grow up in a society that advocated people
being well rounded and had so many more options available.
“I
had the freedom to do anything because of my mother, my
role model,” he explained in response to his choice
of career.
He said there were many who drummed it into his head, day
and night, that because of his short stature he could never
be a sprinter, but he persevered. He encouraged the students
to do the same.
Admitting he has no sense of direction, he noted that in
spite of this, he earned his pilot’s licence.
Similarly, about his movie debut, he admitted, “I don’t
know if I can act but I am reading the script.”
Encouraging the students to do their part to improve the
country and help their fellow man, Boldon told them the
blessings they received were not just for themselves but
to share with others.
“For
some of you it is so easy to pass an exam. You know everything,
but you know a friend who is dunce, help her, nah.”
He clarified this, saying, “Don’t go home and
tell your parents I said the girls in this school are dunce.
“Some
of you are more gifted than others in applying themselves,
but your friends are not as focused; help them.”
Admitting that women are smarter than men, Boldon urged
them, “not to let any stupid man with quarter of your
IQ to negatively influence you or deter you from achieving
your goals.”
Later on, Boldon presented the school with a Spalding basketball
for its physical education department and a career handbook
for the library, on behalf of the Trinidad Guardian.
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