The principal of Saint Joseph’s Senior Secondary School, Hannah K. Coker, Tuesday said Saint Joseph’s women are the movers and shakers of this country.
She was addressing the students at a Career Day organized by the school, as part of celebrations marking the International Women’s Day held at the school hall in Banjul.
She said women could make it happen, and the career day was witnessed by women who are ex-students of the school engaged in various professions, as doctors, lawyers, journalists, bankers, educationists, and entrepreneurs, among others.
“Today is all about inspiring you the students to dream deep and to believe that you are champions, because we have champions among us. To listen to the various resource persons keenly and follow them like a sunflower,” she said.
Mathew Belford, the vice principal, said some of the students have already chosen which career path to take, but others are yet to decide, and the career day would give them the opportunity to ask questions.
He said the decision is entirely theirs even though they have parents and teachers to guide them; but at the end of the day, the decision has to come from them.
They must have an interest and passion for any profession they chose, he said.
He added that as they stay longer in their career they might contemplate a career change, but they must have a tangible reason to do so and, if that happens, the sooner they do it the better for them.
He said professions like being a lawyer, doctor and so on have been in existence, but they should not look at that; instead they should be creative in whatever profession they find themselves in to make them excel in it.
David Mendy from Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation, said SSHFC was created by an Act in 1981, and explained the opportunities offered by his institution and the fact that the students could benefit from it when they are employed in various institutions of work.
He talked about the different schemes offered by SSHFC, which look after the welfare of workers at their old age, when they are retired from their various work places.
They also offer scholarships for students who want to further their education at the University of The Gambia, he said.
Duru Eugene, head of SBEC College, who was a former teacher at Saint Joseph’s School, said the occasion would help students to take charge of their future and career development.
