“Mistakes do not define you”: Roseburg has heart-to-heart talk with vocational students

REWARD--Member of Parliament Sjamira Roseburg visited the St. Maarten Vocational Training School on Monday for what she described as a heart-to-heart exchange with students about life, decision-making, and the consequences that can follow split-second choices.

In reflecting on the visit, Roseburg said her intention was not to give a classroom-style lecture, but to connect with students on a personal level about the realities they face.

“I visited the vocational school today to plant some seeds of knowledge not in the classroom sense but in the sense of life, choices, and consequences,” she said.

Sitting in a circle of teenagers, Roseburg said she saw more than just students; she saw young people carrying adult-sized pressures.

“As I sat in front of the students, I saw young people filled with potential, strength, and possibility, often navigating heavy pressures at a very young age. We had real conversations about how quickly wrong decisions can be made when emotions run high, when peers influence you, or when you feel unheard and misunderstood.”

Those conversations centered on the importance of slowing down in tense moments and understanding the power that each young person holds over their own path. “We spoke honestly about consequences and about power, the power to pause, to think, and to choose a better path.”

Roseburg said a key part of the dialogue focused on what it really means to be “the bigger person” in situations where conflict or provocation is present. “A big part of the discussion was also about being the bigger person. About walking away instead of reacting. About understanding that you do not have to prove yourself to anyone. Real strength is in self control, in knowing who you are, and in choosing peace over pride.”

She stressed to the students that their value is not determined by their worst moments, but by how they respond and grow after those moments. “I reminded them that mistakes do not define them. What defines them is what they choose to do next.”

Roseburg also took time to acknowledge the role of the school’s staff in guiding students through some of their most formative years. “To the teachers, counselors, and staff, thank you for standing in the gap every day. Your patience and guidance truly matter.”

The MP described Monday’s visit as the beginning of a longer journey with the school and its students, rather than a one-off event.

“This will be an ongoing project because I truly believe that through engagement and consistent guidance, these young people can realize just how much they really matter. Before we closed, some of the students shared their dreams and plans for the future, and we heard aspirations of becoming underwater welders, influencers, mechanics, boat captains, entrepreneurs, and more. We ended with my grandmother’s signature message that lives in my heart and that I now pass on to them: Dream, Believe, and Achieve.”

According to Roseburg, those words will continue to guide her outreach as she works to stay connected with young people and reinforce that their ambitions are valid, and that their choices today can shape a different tomorrow.

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