Dreams come true - MP Dayton Campbell tells children to never give up on themselves
Published:Friday | May 9, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter
OVERTAKEN BY a flood of emotions, Dayton Campbell, member of parliament for North West St Ann, on Tuesday encouraged children in Jamaica who are faced with a mountain of challenges not to give up on their dreams, noting that his came true through education, hard work and a relationship with God.
Fighting back the tears as he recounted the difficult circumstances he and his two sisters faced during childhood, Campbell shared with his parliamentary colleagues what he described as a testimony.
Campbell painted a vivid picture of children growing up with a father who did more than farming, but dabbled in drug trafficking that landed him in prison for many years. His mother, a domestic helper, toiled tirelessly to feed her family.
"Whilst growing up, we were teased mercilessly. Every mistake I made, I was told that I was just like my 'worthless pupa'. I was called names like 'jail bud pickney'. I was told that my mother "just hatch up the pickney dem like fowl", Campbell said, noting that he still carried the "stigma of those emotional wounds".
Education as the gateway
Pointing to a gateway for success, Campbell said he and his sisters used education as a vehicle for upward social mobility, and as such, they worked hard.
"We ignored the teasing about our uniforms like when I was asked if I took my measurement in water or when the pants got old and was outgrown and the hem was released, but the crease could not be ironed out."
Sharing the results of hard work and resilience, Campbell said he and his siblings attended the same graduation ceremony in 2008 at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
"My sister that passed away last year got first class honours in nursing. My younger sister who is now back from Fiji is completing her PhD at UWI in chemistry, and I am a medical doctor, the youngest in Parliament, and one month away from having a law degree," Campbell revealed.
He paused at times, apparently struggling to suppress mounting emotions. "Look at the prison bud and domestic helper's children. If we can do it, sir, then that youngster in Bamboo, St Ann can become a lecturer. That youngster in Brown's Town can become an engineer. That girl in Discovery Bay can become prime minister, and that unborn pauper child in Runaway Bay can become a judge."
Said Campbell: "No matter where you are from, your dreams are still valid, that even if everyone has given up on you, you should never give up on yourself. And if you dare to work hard and love God, your dreams of today will be the realities of tomorrow."