Politician and union head Jason Hayward encouraged students at St David’s Primary School to thank their teachers for helping them unlock their potential during an inspirational speech on how to achieve your goals in life.

Mr Hayward, whose many roles include government senator, junior minister for four portfolios, president of the Bermuda Trade Union Congress and president of the Bermuda Public Service Union, outlined some of the important lessons he has learnt in life to get where he is today.

He told the children that while he had many titles, they did not define who he is. He said: “Who I am as an individual is a person who cares about his country, a person who cares about his community and a person who cares about his family. My actions demonstrate that.

“You all in your journeys have to make a choice about what your purpose is in life and what you want to do when you grow up.”

He asked them to imagine where they wanted to be 20 years from now and how they would achieve their goals.

“I have a vision for my life. The only person that is going to stop me from achieving my goals and my vision is me,” he said, asking the children to repeat his words.

“You must set goals for yourself and you must work hard to achieve those goals. When you visualise that house, or that car, or that job … you can’t get there unless you start with small goals starting from today.”

Mr Hayward stressed the importance of hard work in study and life in general and being responsible for your own behaviour.

“Practice makes perfect — if you work hard at anything you do eventually you will master it,” he told them.

Most importantly, he said, the utmost respect must be given to our teachers.

“My teachers are not my enemy,” he asked them to repeat. “They are here to support me and to help me achieve my goals. They will help me unlock my potential because they care. I will respect them and follow their instructions.”

He said while teachers did not earn a lot of money, they had “big hearts” and encouraged the children to find time to thank them.

Mr Hayward was presented with a certificate by school principal Gladstone Thompson in recognition of his valuable contribution to the community.