PASSING-OUT PARADE Discipline foremost, cadets reminded
Twin sisters who received the most outstanding officers’ award at the St Thomas High School annual cadet passing-out parade have paid tribute to their father for being an inspiration to them.
Vani and Makalesi Ranitu, who are Year 13 students at the school, also welcomed the cadet programme as a means to instil discipline in students.
They said discipline and hard work were paramount for someone to be successful in life.
“It helps us to be a good person and prepares us for the real world,” Vani said.
They said it was important to maintain discipline all the time because they were leaders who were setting examples for their team.
Their message to every young mind is to continue working hard despite the challenges one faces. They stressed the importance of discipline as an element of change in life. The sisters said developing leadership skills at such a young age shaped their life journey. They said their father was an important factor in their development.
“He always tells us to work hard for a bright future,” said Vani. They did not expect to win the award and were surprised to be named. The prize was shared by their parents.
“Our parents are here and they are very happy,” said Makalesi. They described the challenges they went through during the programme.
Vani had 99 cadets to look after while Makalesi was responsible for 48.
“We had to be very active in organising cadet training,” she said.
Student cadets of Saint Thomas High School in Lautoka were reminded about the importance of discipline and the need to master it.
Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner Francis Kean, who was chief guest at the cadets’ passingout parade, said maintaining discipline was foremost in each profession and mastering the skill led to success in peoples’ lives. Commissioner Kean urged the cadets to make good use of the training.
“I urge you cadets to make this training an investment in your life,” he stated.
“Cadet training is a very essential part of nation building.”
His message was centred on the importance of discipline and honesty.
“Resolve to be honest,” Commissioner Kean stated, reflecting on his early days in the disciplined services and the advice he received from his superiors.
“Being honest in our undertaking is a very simple yet a very powerful message,” he added. Commissioner Kean encouraged students and cadets to develop a learning attitude in their life.
“Don’t have an ‘I-know-it-all attitude,” he said. Commissioner Kean told students to have an inquisitive mind and to try to ask as many questions as they could and said books helped in this aspect because they were a major source of knowledge.
“You must invest in books,” he stated.
“If you want to become an effective writer, you must read books. I’m not talking about the internet, I’m talking about real books.” Commissioner Kean encouraged students to continue working hard.
“There is no substitute for hard work,” he said.
He also acknowledged the school’s effort in advocating the COP23 programme, especially its bid to combat the litter problem.
263 cadets took part in the passingout parade on Thursday.