ST. ANDREW’S - Professor Eugene Pursoo, former Grenadian Ambassador to the United Nations and current Distinguished Lecturer at Medgar Evers College in New York, paid a visit to his alma mater, the St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School (SAASS) on Thursday October 08, 2009. Professor Pursoo was able to meet with the first and fifth year students of the school and to speak to them with tremendous pride about his deep love for SAASS and the part the institution has played in shaping his body, character and mind as well as in helping him to build the sturdy platform from which he was able to launch into a distinguished career which saw him attaining many of the goals that he had set himself in life. He advised the students to take their schooling very seriously and to begin setting their long-term goals if they have not started doing so as yet. He asked them to have confidence in themselves and in their God-given abilities and to make positive choices and decisions at all times. Professor Pursoo shared some strategies with them as well as many of his life’s experiences. Before leaving, Professor Pursoo took the time out to have lunch with the teaching fraternity at the school. During the luncheon, he had an intellectual exchange with the staff which was punctuated with many humorous moments. He thanked the teachers for the fantastic job that they have been doing over the years in helping to shape the minds of the nation’s children and urged them to continue doing so, in spite of the challenges that they may face. He also spoke about the academic opportunities that are available at Medgar Evers College and about his desire to see affordable educational opportunities, at the undergraduate and post graduate levels, be made available to the people of Grenada, especially in the rural parish of St. Andrew. Professor Pursoo mentioned that in the future, he will like to meet with students and staff members of the other secondary schools in the parish of St. Andrew. The Professor’s trip to SAASS and his lecture to the students and staff of the school were sponsored by the St. George’s University School of Medicine, one of the institutions on the island that has been making great strides in helping to change the academic landscape of the country and make learning opportunities more accessible and affordable to Grenadians. This is the second year that Professor Pursoo has visited the St. Andrew’s parish to give motivational lectures to students. Grenadian Connection wishes to congratulate Professor Pursoo for engaging in this bold but noble initiative to share from his vast reservoir of experience and knowledge with the teaching faculty of schools in Grenada; for helping to motivate and inspire young minds to strive towards the attainment of excellence and for using his influence to try and make learning opportunities more convenient and affordable for thousands of Grenadians. We salute you!