Why does my major benefit the Jamaican community?

“Eternal Father, bless our land… Justice, truth be ours forever Jamaica land we love.”

The above quotation is an excerpt  from our national anthem. It highlights some of Jamaica’s main focuses as a country. One recognizes that amongst the things being sought for justice is one which is explicitly sought for eternally. This raises the question, “how can we ensure that justice is embedded in the country?” This is achievable through a fully functional and efficient justice system that one matriculates to through legal means.

I currently study law at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus where I will further need to study at the Norman Manley law school to become a successful attorney and practice law in Jamaica. Law is generally rules that ensure order, structure  and good governance of a society. It is therefore imperative that they are properly enforced, understood and interpreted and that is where my Bachelor of Laws functions beneficially to the Jamaican justice system and by extension the society. 

Laws in Jamaica are chiefly found in the constitution and they are legally worded meaning the ‘average man’ may not be able to take up these constitutions or case laws and be completely clear as to the state of the law. These laws usually encompass the lives, assets and safety of our Jamaican people thus it is important that they are handled by individuals who have expertise in such areas and with great care. This expertise arises from an in depth study of  my major.  Following a legal dispute, it is up to the lawyers and judges to argue matters concerning the law and to decide the best possible outcome taking into context during times of ambiguity; the intent of the law to ensure the running of an effective society.  Imagine being innocent and accused of murder and brought to trial and being represented by an incompetent individual resulting in you spending time behind bars that you did not deserve. How unfortunate would that be?  

Additionally, my major ensures that government officials and organizations that wield power do you act outside of their capacity or violate the rights of our Jamaican people. During a time where there is a mass focus on human rights across the world, my major  ensures that our rights as a people are not being infringed upon by those who ought to protect it and in cases when it is that we act in a capacity resulting in justice being met. This would require appearances before the court and in majority of court cases a lawyer will be needed to sufficiently guide you through the process. Going into a courtroom without legal representation is similar to going into a war with weapons. In like manner chances would be that one may lose the battle which no one would want.

Conclusively, my major acts to serve the people of Jamaica in that it converts legal terminologies into understandable layman terms, it ensures that a due process is followed for justice with adequate knowledge of the subject matter and also that the rights of our people are not infringed upon but are actively fought for.

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Loving the best of me

As the saying goes, “never internalize anyone’s disrespect”.  This is the 1^st sign of self-love. What is your value? It can never come from someone else. This is an inside job. If you are not sure how to do this, read following and use these rules as guideline for that journey.

1.       Ask yourself what do you bring to the table. Are your marketable skills up to date? This will determine if you get that phone call or email.

2.       If you get terminated, do you have a plan B. Don’t depend on anyone to support you. Maybe you have a rich spouse, inherit some money but that could dry up. Your two hands are what will save and support you.

3.       Always have the ability to relocate. Jamaicans in the diaspora decided that living in Jamaica is not the only option for economic survival. Traveling also introduce you to multiple perspectives.

4.       Develop credible relationships. Should you find yourself looking for a job, good references are needed.

5.       What bad habit do you need to discontinue? As human beings, we call have vices but sometimes this can become a major hindrance.

6.       Always evaluate your current circumstances at least one a year. Ask yourself why you are here in this situation. What is the rate of return and does it impact your integrity. This will determine if you stay, leave or make adjustments.

7.       Does my current circumstance provide a vertical or horizontal opportunity?

8.       Does my current environment permit me to elevate.

Don’t wait for an opportunity; create one!

It’s not what people say about you that matters, it’s what you say about yourself. In most cases, there is an economic or political component to the relationship. Positivity is created by your outlook; therefore, say these affirmations on a regular basis:
1. I am courageous.
2. I am unstoppable.
3. I am victorious.
4. I am love.
5. I am blessed.
6. I am gifted.
7. I am anointed.
8. I am successful.
9. I am healed.
10. I am healthy.
11. I am beautiful.
12. I am whole.
13. I am confident.
14. I am forgiving.
15. I am grateful.
16. I am generous.
17. I am strong.
18. I am focused.
19. I am able.
20. I am powerful.
21. I am fruitful.
22. I am God’s masterpiece!

Ways to find love

What is it really? Is it a feeling, your natural instinct or a political move? Everyone has their own interpretation of what this word is and why most people crave for it. Over 50% of the songs are about this thing. Who would you like to share it with? Ask yourself as well as the potential mate these questions:

1. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

2. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

3. Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?

4. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

5. What do you value most in a friendship?

6. What is your most treasured memory?

7. What is your most terrible memory?

8. What does friendship mean to you?

9. Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

Visit:  www.JamaicanDiaspora.com

HOW TO AVOID DESTROYING YOUR PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP

A friend recently shared with me the torment her daughter and family have been going through over the past year, and some awful memories came rushing back. Memories of a childhood where overweight was a curse met with bullying and ridicule, even by the people who claimed to love you. In those years and in our country, Jamaica, depression wasn’t (believed to be) a real thing. The feelings of self- loathing you developed because everyone else treated you like a pariah were simply you being a spoiled baby.

Much of that is still the same in any ethnic or social group. As a result, parents are often blamed for not recognizing the signs of a troubled childhood. But many parents see the issues up close and personally, and dismiss them as kids being kids. It is not from a lack of love, but a lack of understanding, especially if you’ve never been the victim of psychological assault yourself.

For the child who suffers, the dismissiveness of the parent may hurt more than whatever stress they’re enduring from their peers.

Parents seem to have a habit of blaming their children for being children. Rarely do they acknowledge that they too, as parents, make mistakes and aren’t perfect. They too have been careless and suffered preventable loss or injury, not because they are bad people, but simply because they are human. Probably wanting to live a perfect life vicariously through their children, they judge their kids much more harshly than they do themselves. It’s a troubling dynamic.

For my friend, her child’s reaction to bullying and personal insecurity ran the gamut from self-cutting, to an attempted suicide. In my own family I recently learned that one of my sisters went through a long period of depression because of our parent’s reaction to a robbery she survived. Our parent blamed her for being where she wasn’t supposed to be, instead of rallying to give her emotional support through this near-death experience.

Over ten years later, the damage from that reaction is still being undone. But I’m happy to confirm that my sister is a beautiful young woman with an amazing life ahead of her. With therapy and time, hopefully my friend’s daughter will also grow into a greater purpose. She’s planning on writing a book about her experiences so that parents don’t miss the warning signs before it’s too late to help their relationships with their own children, or even save their kids’ lives.

I don’t have any children of my own, but having been a troubled child and seeing lots of the parent-child dynamic from the outside, I have one piece of advice to parents. Find a way to teach your child that actions can have consequences they won’t be happy with, without making them feel like they deserve the bad things that happen if they make a wrong decision. Blaming your child for their own suffering will only make them feel crappy, and if you’re a good parent, possibly make you feel worse.

Calibe Thompson is a video media producer, speaker and author. Learn more about her services at http://www.islandsyndicate.com and share your thoughts on these and other opinion pieces on Facebook @calibethompson.

The love track

When it finally happens, how do you know for sure that the timing is right? Take your time. Don’t make assumptions. The first person you must have that feeling for is you. If you can’t love yourself then how can you love someone else? When someone tells you about themselves, believe it. Hopefully, these will be some of them:

1. What roles do love and affection play in your life?

2. How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people’s?

3. How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?

5. Make three true “we” statements each. For instance, “We are both in this room feeling ... “

6. Complete this sentence: “I wish I had someone with whom I could share ... “

7. Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time, saying things that you might not say to someone you’ve just met.

8. When did you last cry in front of another person or by yourself?

9. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

Visit:  www.JamaicanDiaspora.com

Leadership Survival

What will you do to make yourself unique? How will your product or service stand out?  The business world can be a nasty place, if you are not prepared. Here are some effective tools to become an effective leader.

1.       Never outshine the chief. People above you should never feel intimated because if they do, plan on being targeted. Position yourself to make your superiors appear brilliant and you will receive favors from them in many ways.

2.       Never put too much trust in associates. Be wary of your surroundings. Human nature is just that, regardless of your relationship with that person. Envy is always lurking around the corner, which will result in tyranny.

3.       Disguise your aims. Don’t tell everything because if you do, your competitors will create a defense. Keep them guessing on what are you really doing. False trails are always the best because by the time they figure it out, you are ahead to the game.

4.       Continually say less than necessary. No one likes a busy body. The more you say, the less you appear to be intriguing. You may be repeating something but do it in a way as if it is an original.

5.       Reputation is everything. The good books in Proverbs speaks of a good name is better than fine jewelry. Status alone can be the trump card to win or intimate your opponent; therefore, one slip will make you vulnerable and susceptible to attack.

6.       Encourage consideration at all cost. Why be ordinary? No one cares for followers or the perception of average. Stand out and be conspicuous. We are all selfish and people want to know what is in it for them. The way you attract, will answer that very question.

7.       Develop others to do the work but always take the credit. When you use insight and the groundwork of others, you save time and energy. The goal will be achieved with minimum input of your time, while you get the credit.

8.       Create the narrative so that others come to you. Forcing people to do things against their will is momentary success. You will have to continue harsh power for control. However, if people do things of their own free will, a better and longer production mode is in place. Make people feel they have control or power.

9.       Earn respect through your actions, never through argument. Ever hear the term, less is more? Demonstrate not illuminate. This is the ultimate power. Brute force will only conjure up ill will, which means you are leading.

1.   Septicity: avoid the unfortunate and luckless. Where does negativity take you? Nowhere! Don’t allow someone else’s misery to take you down. Yes, you should help others for it is the humane thing to do but not at the expense of your economic or political interest.