Rotary Club of May Pen honours senior doctor for humanitarian work
Published:Wednesday | February 7, 2018 | 12:00 AMCecelia Campbell -Livingston/Gleaner Writer
May Pen Hospital senior medical doctor Bradley Edwards has confessed that he was surprised by a recognition that was bestowed on him by the Rotary Club of May Pen recently.
The occasion was the second anniversary of the club's involvement in preparing students from the Hazard Skills Training Centre in Palmers Cross for the next steps in entering the job market.
This was done through giving them tips on writing effective resumes and cover letters, and conducting role plays of actual job interviews.
Edwards, who has spent much of his spare time interacting with the youths and donating of his time and skills serving the community at large, was singled out by the service club for that dedication.
In reading the citation, club secretary Glossim Jones shared that Edwards was being awarded for "exemplifying outstanding professional achievements and maintaining very high ethical standards".
"Dr Edwards has been working tireless and assiduously in the health sector as a medical doctor at the Kingston Public Hospital, the Percy Junor Hospital, and the May Pen Hospital," she read, sharing that he has used his vocation to not only help persons when they are ill, but to prevent illness. Edwards also used his influence in the fight against human trafficking.
Edwards, in acknowledging the award, spoke on the power of association.
He said that when he just started out in Clarendon, he met with some wonderful persons, including philanthropist Otis James of the James and Friends Education Programme. He said that it was by virtue of that association that he was pulled into the position where he could be honoured.
When you are associated with the right people, you just get pulled into it," he said as he urged students in the room to be careful about whom they form alliances with.
'I had to step up'
Sharing a story from his early school years at Cornwall College, Dr Bradley Edwards said that although he was 'bright', he wasn't pushed to the limit.
"... I was underachieving, getting 69 per cent and coming second in the class with that grade. My group was about playing scrimmage and not studying; their objective was 'as long as you beat a man you good'," he said to howls of laughter, as he explained that if 36 students were in class and you placed 35th, all was well.
Edwards said that all changed for him when he left Cornwall College for Manchester High School, where he had to step up his game, as the person who placed 15th in class had a score of 90 per cent.
"I had to step up automatically, because associating with people who are at higher level, I didn't want (to fall behind)," he said.
Using the popular quote "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them", he said that in his case, it was thrust upon him by virtue of association.
His advice to the students was to not consider themselves as 'selling out' their friends, but looking out for themselves.
"Sometimes, you have to step away from your friends and then pull them up after you," he said.