GOLDEN GOLDSMITHS…. WHAT A WAY TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE!

PART TWO

Prof Frances Marie Corner (née Agnew), Warden, Goldsmiths, University of London.

Screenshot of Monalisa Chukwuma’s Portrait of an Unknown Woman.

“Aren’t those secondary school students coming into the Exhibition Hall?” I had asked Monalisa. “It does seem to me they did not know the exhibition had started, can I go and call them in?”
Monalisa replied: “They are not coming here.”
“Why not?” I queried.
“I did not invite them,” said Monalisa.
“You should have!” Exclaimed I.
“Next time when you are organising an exhibition such as this, please invite them through their college,” I admonished her. “They need to know about things like these, especially those of them from Nigeria, and Africa in general. Some of them don’t even know about their roots and history, being born here in Britain, and in the West generally speaking.”
One marvel about the St. Matthew Academy students was that unlike their age, especially when in groups with their peers, and probably coming from their school after closing time, they were very well behaved.
They neither disturbed the students of Goldsmiths who were reading nor relaxing. It looks to me they were conscious that one day some of them would be there at GUoL as students undertaking one course or another.
What a way to inspire, motivate and encourage young people, Golden Gold…!
And without hesitation, I say unequivocally, kudos to the studentry, both academic and non-academic staff and the entire management of Goldsmiths, University of London for such unusual thoughtfulness, generosity, encouragement, and for being so forward looking and considerate.
Unarguably, thousands of St Matthew Academy students who were in the past just visiting like the set of students under examination had ended up becoming its students, and subsequently its graduates now!
The task to get young people off crimes of all sorts, particularly youth violence, manifesting itself globally in knife crimes (Britain mostly) and gun crimes (mostly in the U.S.A.) is the collectively responsibility of all the world.
Therefore, whatever all the world can do to create THE GENERATION POSITIVE must not be held back.
We can all help young people create a positive environment for their growth – spiritual, moral, social, economic and physical wellbeing and development; encouraging them to always stay positive, letting them to know there is no such a thing as “impossibility” in the world; encouraging them to dream big dreams, and seeing to their realization; living the life of a strong-minded optimist, devoid of any form of pessimism, no matter the difficulties in these our uncertain times, and teaching them the way they should go; to have respect for all forms of lives and helping them to embrace that eternal dictum: where there is a will, there will always be a way.
Finally, my joy will be complete the day I see other universities in the country and elsewhere in the nations to so throw their doors wide open to encourage and inspire children and youngsters – and as a matter of fact, I would here suggest there should be a deliberate university policy initiative to regularly invite pupils and college students on a walk-tour of their campuses to see how university students conduct their affairs generally, visiting their libraries and laboratories, attending lectures sometimes as guest students as the case may be, and to attend organised events/exhibitions, etc.
THE END.

 

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