Students learned the ABCs of success yesterday from an award-winning Bermudian motivational speaker with five White House citations.

Dennis Rahiim Watson told S1-S4 students at the Berkeley Institute Student Leadership Conference that he used to be a "knucklehead" but it was his mother and teachers who knocked sense into him.

"They kicked me out of high school in Bermuda 37 times, but guess what, one day the principal called my mother up. She came to the school and said, 'You must be out of your mind. If you don't get an education you can't live in my house. I'm not going up to Dockyard to the prison to bail you out'.

"I am so thankful to her and my other role models in Bermuda," said Mr. Watson.

"I was a knucklehead and it took me 15 years to catch up."

Telling the students they should focus on their studies instead of living "in the now", Mr. Watson said they needed to be prepared to compete in the future with others from around the world in a global economy.

"The motto of the school (Berkeley Institute) is 'Keep the end in view' so if you want to be successful you can't be in the 'now', you've got to keep the end in view," he said.

He told them the ABCs of success were:

A having a positive attitude, an aim in life, ambition and taking action;

B belief in yourself, being bold, and having good behaviour;

C confidence, self-control, being considerate and having character.

"Your job is to be the best and the brightest. The future belongs to those who study," said Mr. Watson.

"We must unite from Somerset to St. George's so everybody on this earth can 'feel the love' we have for ourselves."

Mr. Watson addressed the students as part of the 'Choose your destiny, claim your success' event, organised by the Peer Helpers Class. The half-day event yesterday also included activities and a discussion panel.

S4 student Ethan Gallo thanked Mr. Watson for attending as the speaker, on behalf of the students. He said the address had been "inspirational".

"Thank you for reminding us to not get caught up in the 'now' but to keep the end in sight," said Ethan.

Mr. Watson has lectured at more than 1,000 colleges and universities in the US, Canada and Africa. He recently addressed Harvard University students at the 11th Annual Tribute to Black Men Forum on Black Masculinity.

As the chairman of the National Youth and Gang Violence Task Force, his dedication to reducing gun violence and gang activity has earned him more than 300 awards and five White House citations.

His motivational speaking, and his show 'The First Black President of the United States', has earned praise from both US President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton.

Mr. Watson is originally from Ord Road, Paget, and was raised in Southampton. He lives in New York and was recently named one of the top 50 best black speakers in America.