Dr. Gregory Haughton went back to his roots - A "Love Letter" from his alma mater - XLCR

#ThrowbackVideo

OLYMPIAN GREGORY HAUGHTON RETURNS TO XLCR
By Desmond Shakespeare
Sunday October 27, 2019

Excelsior High icon and double Jamaica Olympian, Dr Gregory Haughton, returned to his alma mater yesterday Friday October 25, 2019. Dr Haughton was there on the invitation of Track & Field Technical Director, David Riley and Sports Master, Xavier Gilbert to deliver his motivational address to athletes from a number of the school's sports teams.

This was Dr Haughton's latest stop on his "The Mind of A Champion Tour". The goal of this grass root programme is to educate, inspire, motivate and empower our children from an early age, as we strive to foster national development and contribute to nation building through mental coaching, personal development and professional development.

Participating in the workshop were members of the Basketball, Cricket, Track & Field, and Male & Female Football teams, during which Dr Haughton enjoined that everyone can be great, outlining the elements of becoming great. He posited that to be great you must have a vigorous mindset. This mindset seprates a good athlete from a great athlete. You have to think like a champion every single hour. It is not achieved overnight. Your level of greatness is determined by your level of discipline. Discipline of mind and of body.

He went on to emphasise the role of confidence in self and one's abilities while not being distracted by other peoples opinion of you; itemising the raw materials for greatness:

1. Hard work: There is no substitute for hard work. Anyone who takes short cuts will never be a true champion.

2. Commitment: A champion must be committed to the end.

3. Total dedication and devotion to your sport: People who only committ physically will always quit when things get tough. True champions have the will power to persevere. They have considered already the price to pay. If you waste a lot of time you will get good at it and become excellent at wasting other peoples' time.

4. Diligence: Not only means that you work hard but you also take pride in your work. Noting how his talent gave him the opportunuty to take his family out of poverty, he questioned what other avenue do you have right now to give yourself a free education and take your family out of poverty. He advanced that, most of you will have to work to accumulate any wealth. If you are not prepared to work hard then "dawg nyam your supper". Indicating that he wasted a lot of time with people who turned out with nothing. Sometimes the mistakes you make follow you for the rest of your life.

5. Tenacity: You have to be persistent in your desire to be great. 'No one is better than me", should be your attitude. They might be just more committed to the task than you. Working hard and working smart. If you think you are going be great without feeling pain you are in for a sad awakening.

6. Patience: Anything that is worthwile takes time. We want instant results but real life is not social media and greatness should never be rushed. Patience shows how strong you truly are. Other than your parents, nobody owes you anything. It is in your best interest to use your talents to get to where you need to be.

In closing he asked rhetorically, how do you unlock the doors,? Answering, that it is with consistent application of these raw materials. If you have all the information and only apply it sometimes, then how can you ever be great. Every one can achieve greatness but some of your personal reasons prevent you from being totally committed to the task. You are the key to your own success. The greatest gift you have is your physical talent. Love what you do and love the feeling that it brings.

Following Dr Haughton's well attended address the student-athletes tendered a number of questions indicating their interest in this most motivational presentation.

Greetings and congratulations were brought on behalf of the school by Principal Deanroy Bromfield, while Track and Field Captain Tevin Thompson moved the vote of thanks.
Article contribution by: Duane Coombs
#ThrowbackVideo : Video interview on CVM; January 2019