"Perseverance is key to success" — Liberia Gender Minister tells 5th graduating class of Grand Gedeh County Community College

On Saturday, February 26, 2022, the Grand Gedeh County Community College graduated 84 students (58 males and 26 females) from various disciplines which include Teacher's Education Agriculture, Business Management and Public Administration, Science and Technology and Health Sciences.

Delivering the keynote address, Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister Williametta E. Saydee-Tarr told the graduates that graduation is one of those steps in life that defines a coming of age – the ending of one era of life and moving on to a new stage in which you are a leader, a doer and an achiever in the world at large.

"I am sure many of you have firm plans and have a good idea of what you want to do next, a dream and a lot of hope to get you there, and some of you are just amazed that you are finally graduating and getting out!!! Well, the time ahead will be exciting – and at times you might find life to be trying, but your parents, families, and your greater community will all be looking to see your determination to achieve your plans after you leave here - and this is mainly going to happen through perseverance," she encourages.

Sharing her personal experience with the graduates, the Minister narrates: "Let me share my dreams and aspirations with you as I journeyed through my academic sojourn: Experience thru the War years, not knowing if I Will live or die, being hunted, simply because Of my tribe. Surviving was no easy feat, but perseverance kicked in and I did.

"Before the opportunity came to travel to the US to complete my college education, fresh out of high school, with no where to go, and at the time, with academic institutions being nonfunctional, I worked briefly for the Liberia National Police Force and then, with the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation, not having the slightest thought of advancing my education or serving our country in such capacity today. Again the underlying factor was that which is embedded in us all-the first law of nature - self-perseverance."

She cautioned, "at times, the plan you have for yourself might not be realized immediately or as fast as you would want them to happen. This is because life is not always a bed of roses and I am sure you all are already aware of this.

"You might experience the high and lows of life which is a normal part of life. Just as there will be opportunities, there might be disappointments too, but like the Christian anarchist writer, Elbert Hubbard penned back in 1915, remember. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! This proverbial phrase simply means that you should be optimistic and always have a positive can-do attitude in the face of adversity or misfortune".

The keynote speaker admonished that perseverance is not for the faint of heart. "It takes total dedication to follow through, despite any obstacles you might encounter or any negation that you may hear from family, friends, and others. Giving up is easy, but the success of pushing through obstacles that lie in your path is golden."

In closing, Minister Saydee-Tarr committed to providing Bachelor level scholarship to the institution's duo summa cum laude in Monrovia. She also committed to providing scholarships up till the graduation of eight (four males and four females) current students of the institutions.

Additionally, Minister Saydee-Tarr committed to erecting a hand pump that would help to ease the current constraint in water.

She lauded the teaching staff of the college for the transferred knowledge and dedication to duty, applauding the parents and families of the graduates.

She added, "thank you, you should know that your support through this process made an enormous impact. I am sure you are very proud of your graduates as they close this portion of their lives and prepare for the next step into a new career or advancement in furthering their education."