Shining Our Light: An Anthology of Poems, Stories and Reflections on our Journeys

By Courtney Smith

This book is an innovative blend of inspiring poems, short stories, blogs and tips for success. It represents the collective effort of 23 alumni (Form 4b, Year 1974) of Manchester High School, Jamaica. The golden thread running through the pages is the school’s motto – Sic luceat lux (Let your light so shine). It will be apparent to readers that the contributors have all been shining their light and continue to do so even after many have retired from professional life. True to the values of their alma mater, they have developed and honed their knowledge in some of the most illustrious universities across the globe. They have studied and practiced their professions in Jamaica, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Norway, Switzerland, and as far afield as in Kenya and Australia. This cohort of alumni is distinguished in the fields of accountancy, art, banking, consultancy, economics, engineering, finance, government, healthcare, insurance, leadership, librarianship, management, marketing, public administration, teaching, theology, tourism, and much more. Some have amassed prestigious awards and gained national and international recognition for their achievements. This breadth of expertise makes the contributors well placed to offer guidance, success tips, and life skills for the benefit of children and readers of all demographics.



“This book is a real achievement Form 4B. You have let your light shine brightly in so many ways and in so many parts of the world – sincere congratulations to you all. Do you realise it is nearly 50 years since we were in that form room singing ‘Send down the rain’ in class assembly? I can see you now! I’m so proud of you!” Mrs Janice Hillary – Retired Teacher, Manchester High School, Mandeville, Jamaica.



“The team has taken on an exciting venture. I read the poems and find them to be very encouraging. I was reminded that one of the keys to success is to ‘plan the work and work the plan’.” Mr Alister Miller, Head of Guidance, Manchester High School, Mandeville, Jamaica.



“The light to do good and be better lives in all of us. When we let our light shine, we give license to others, and make room for them to shine. … Just imagine a world where we are all shining our own unique light.” Extract from Foreword by Ms Sandra M. Mitchell, Registered Professional Nurse and former Vice President of Medical Management for Healthcare Partners, New York, USA.



“Inspiring and insightful with tips, mindsets and techniques that will help you to achieve your goals.” Dr Cristina Perilla, Dental Surgeon, Nottingham, United Kingdom.



List of Contributors – Nadia Answer (deceased), Jennilyn Beckford-Hines, Sandra Marie Brown (McNamee), David Dawkins, Doreth Fisher, Andrea Gordon, Shelley King, Judy Lyew-Sang, Eli McDaniel, Sandra M. Mitchell, Clifton Morgan, Joseph Morgan, Andrea Marie Norman-McPherson, June Powell, Arlene Russell, Lorna Senior, Courtney Smith, Ray Smith, Calvin Sutherland, Livingstone Thompson, George Tulloch, Ann Warner, Constancia Whittingham, Beverley Williamson.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Self Publishing Partnership
• Release date: Nov 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781839523557

Courtney Smith

Courtney Smith is the author of the charming children’s book, But I Don’t Want a New Room. A passionate primary teacher by day and a novice writer by night, this busy mum of two draws inspiration from her real life journey and experiences with her two beautiful, busy daughters and supportive fiancé Steve.

Book preview

List of Contributors by Chapter

CHAPTER ONE: POEMS FROM FORMATIVE YEARS

TABLE 1 – POEMS BY CATEGORY AND AUTHOR

CHAPTER TWO: POEMS WRITTEN IN RECENT YEARS

TABLE 2 – POEMS BY CATEGORY AND AUTHOR

CHAPTER THREE: STORIES FROM FORMATIVE YEARS

TABLE 3 – STORIES BY CATEGORY AND AUTHOR

CHAPTER FOUR: ARTICLES FROM RECENT YEARS

TABLE 4 – LIST OF ARTICLES BY AUTHOR

CHAPTER FIVE: PERSONAL PROFILES

TABLE 5 – BIOGRAPHIES BY AUTHOR

Foreword

by Sandra M. Mitchell

Group projects are never easy to pull off successfully. And when you layer the fact that this book is the collective work of individuals who are separated by oceans and the varying mores of different continents, and former classmates who (in some cases) have not seen each other since they graduated from Manchester High School some forty-six years ago, this book is a real triumph. It is a triumph of the human spirit and the unshakeable, indomitable, ingrained directive of our school’s motto: Sic Luceat Lux – Let Your Light So Shine.

As I reflect on the school’s motto, I realise long before we got to the school on the top of the hill, we were the beneficiaries of the light of others. Some of us were fortunate enough to grow up in rural Manchester, Jamaica, where lessons in collaboration, responsibility, accountability, and cooperation were learnt from the experiences of Morning Spree. Morning Spree is the term used to describe how rural farmers organise themselves to maximise voluntary labour and ensure everyone’s crops are planted timely and without overlap. That was light, light for our path in the leadership challenge. The spirit of Morning Spree is evident in this work.

We should all be grateful to pick up a book and recognise ourselves in it. I was very touched by Dr Smith’s ode to Albert Dawkins and Egbert Russell. Albert Justice Dawkins was Mass Lion to me. Lion was a fitting name because he had a lion personality and a massive endearing laugh to go with it. Beyond that personality he let his light shine every day. By so doing, he also inspired us to shine our own light. He operated what we called our school bus. He made sure we were transported to and from school on time every day, and this before he went to his own day job at ALCAN. We rode regardless of whether we could afford to pay or not. Mass Lion saw the light in others and let his light envelope others. He may not have been famous beyond the boundaries of Manchester, but he was a notable man. Because of his selfless kindness, I carry his light with me every day and everywhere. His light continues to shine through his son David, who is a partner in this book endeavour. Other contributors, I am sure, will make the same connections as they read the offerings by the various authors.

Similarly, the late Mr Egbert A. Russell (father of Arlene Russell) shone his light in a myriad of ways. Like Mr Albert Dawkins, he served as a Radar Technician in the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom during the Second World War. His training at Mico Teacher Training College and Alsager College in North Staffordshire, England, contributed greatly to his distinguished career as a teacher and renowned Headmaster of a number of schools in Jamaica. Over several decades, he touched the lives of countless numbers of students from across the island, and helped them to achieve their career aspirations. This ex-student spoke for many when he wrote You were our father, our teacher, our elder, our hero, an incredible intellect, a soldier, a great orator, a great soul of matchless courage, preparing us to be and to carry on the mantle of society’s future. (Tribute to Headmaster Egbert A. Russell by Bill Tinglin, 1st November 2019). When we shine our light, we will always be remembered for our deeds.

This book offers something to every reader. If you are of a younger ilk, it lays a path for future success. Chapter Six should be a tear out/carry along for any young person as a guidepost for success and a reminder that we do not always rise to the level of our expectations, but we can fall to the extent of our preparedness. For the more mature reader, it confirms that we never had to go to Oz because it already was in us. Andrea Gordon reminds us that we are, and must be, our own Pocket Elf. Shelley’s Mary reminds us that when we make an unadulterated effort to be kind, our expectations are surpassed. Being kind is shining a light.

The light to do good and be better, lives in all of us. When we let our light shine, we give license to, and make room for others to shine. Our light can never be dimmed by another, neither can we dim the light of another. It is enough that all of us shine. Imagine