The Sweat Equity Crew and TSEC Foundation recently hosted their first Youth Empowerment Seminar, aimed at providing mentorship, character development and positive role models for students from several schools across Central Trinidad.
The keynote speaker, Lieutenant Commander Claudio Luces-Smith of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, encouraged students to strive for excellence and leadership, using his personal journey to inspire and empower them.
Mr Smith explained that he had suffered a major injury while training with Defence Force personnel in Venezuela.
“At age 23 I was running 10.02 in a 100 metres with the aim to go sub ten. And at 24, this is my back on a wheel chair. So what this make me do? Give up? No, I asked the doctor would I be able to play football again? Would I be able to run again? You know what he told me? Yes. However you need to prepare.”
The Lieutenant Commander said he went on to raise four children while continuing his military career. He credited his ability to overcome challenges to his mindset and way of thinking.
“Mindset, it’s up here, it’s in your mind. If you tell yourself I can’t, you’re done, you done fail. You done fail.If you start by saying I can’t, I can’t, I can’t, you done fail. So the mindset is yes, I can. Say that.”
Encouraging them not to be daunted by challenges, Lieutenant Commander Luces-Smith recounted stories from his upbringing and the mistakes he made along the way, urging the young audience to view obstacles as part of their journey to success.
“Against the odds, odds can be difficult things that happening in life. So I believe that I believe that no matter what odds come your way you need to always keep your head high, aim to do your very best at all times.”
The theme of the seminar was “Small Goals, Inspiring Big Dreams,” highlighting the importance of taking small, purposeful steps towards achieving larger ambitions.