Keep making an impact after retirement - Pinnock

WESTERN BUREAU:

Dr Michelle Pinnock, the regional director in the Ministry of Education's (MOE) Region Four, is urging retirees from the education sector to view their retirement as a new phase of life, saying they should strive to continue to influence and make an impact on society.

"You affected eternity, and you will never understand your influence," said Pinnock, who was addressing a function to honour six retirees from the Bethel Primary and Junior High School in Hopewell, Hanover, last weekend. "I want to express the appreciation of the MOE for your many years of devoted service."

Collectively, the six teachers gave a total of 135 years of service to the Bethel Primary and Junior High School, and over 200 years of service to the education sector.

Using the word IMPACT to characterise their contribution, the regional director told the retirees that they should use the letter 'I' as a reminder that they should always invest in their own well-being, and look after themselves.

BE POSITIVE

"The time has now come for you to place yourselves as a priority," said Pinnock, in urging the retirees to be positive, committed and to use their time wisely.

Pinnock said the second letter in the word IMPACT, the letter 'M', should serve to remind them to motivate others. The letter 'P' should remind them to remain positive and always have a positive mindset; the letter 'A' should remind them to always strive to attract others by making every effort to be pleasant. The 'C' is a reminder to commit to being happy, as no one else can make you happy; the letter 'T,' she said, is a most valuable asset called time, which must be spent doing the things that make you happy.

Those honoured at the function were: Fabian Ford, former principal; Cylin Hutchinson, Loraine Brown-Edwards and Anthony Easy, all former teachers; and Donald Baugh and Marilyn Stone, both former members of the auxiliary staff.