CEO at the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce Catherine Kumar says too many people walk through the doors of businesses, degree in hand, expecting success and was unwilling to work a long day.
She was addressing yesterday’s graduation ceremony for students of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Sports and Physical Education Centre, St Augustine, where she was conferred with the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws by the university.
In delivering the feature address, Kumar said commitment was so lacking that more time was spent on social media than in toiling to deliver quality work on time.
She told the graduates their academic achievement would not instantly open to the jobs or businesses they wanted nor opportunities they believed they deserved. Commitment, she said, was part of the formula for success.
She told the graduates they should always have a conscience and give back to society.
“Have a conscience,” she said, adding that in today’s world giving back “seems to be something we leave to others.
“Conscience is not martyrdom. Conscience is volunteering.
“It is giving back to your church, your community, helping those less fortunate than yourself, opening doors for others,” she added.
She called on graduates “to revive the conscience of your homeland with urgency.”
“This must be a priority,” she said, “if we have any hope of being better. Success is conscience.
“Build and create your legacy with a conscience so that it is filled with inspiration, as it will be with financial means.”
She said success was based on the choices people made.
“Don’t let circumstances rule you. You have to be in charge,” she added.