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Sprint star Julien Alfred fulfilled her promise for Saint Lucia and Saint Lucians: She won the first Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters. Then she put the world on the map to find the island called Saint Lucia.
Winning an Olympic gold medal requires goal setting, planning, execution, and discipline. Julian Alfred knows this.
In primary school, she knew she wanted to be a professional athlete. Her head teacher was aware of this desire and saw it in her behaviour. In fact, trained teachers see behaviours that untrained teachers often don’t.
Julien Alfred comes from the Ciceron community, where she developed humility. In fact, the Ciceron community has the potential to produce very humble people.
About fifty years ago, when I was a student at the then Teacher Training College in St. Lucia, I had to do a child study as part of the teacher education course. I took a little boy who lived not far from the school. This child displayed such humility that it was amazing. I followed him to his home where I met his mother and felt the humility again. I will never forget that child!
Indeed, Julian Alfred is a very patriotic daughter of Saint Lucia. Throughout her athletic career, she constantly spoke about her people. “I know my people are watching and supporting me,” she said in an interview. Indeed, she has the support of her parents, coaches, government and the business community. In fact, First National Bank took her in and provided her with all the support a local bank could.
Julian set some goals for himself early on. Now, goal setting is the process of taking positive steps to achieve desired results. Psychologist Dr. Edwin Locke pointed out in 1968 that clear, specific, and measurable goals improve performance more than vague goals.
Now, when a person sets a goal for himself or herself, he or she starts thinking about what he or she wants to achieve. He or she becomes a dreamer. Now, when he or she really needs to make some progress or rally a team, the real sweat and hard work begins.
In fact, a lot of the time when we see Julian Alfred, she’s working toward her goals, training and developing mental discipline.
Today, Julian Alfred is a star athlete! Her Olympic gold medals in the 100m and silver in the 200m mean she is an inspiration to young people in her beloved home country of Saint Lucia, and around the world. Julian opens the door for young people to improve their performance not only in sports, but in all the subjects they pursue. In education, this is called achievement motivation.
This is the first time that Saint Lucian athletes have won Olympic gold and silver medals. It is truly inspiring.
Now, the collective celebration began. Saint Lucians and the diaspora were watching and supporting “their” Julian Alfred. There were four organized viewing sites in Saint Lucia to watch the sprinter take down the Olympic gold medal. My grandchildren in Texas were watching; other relatives in Texas were watching. My cousin in Louisiana called me shortly after the race. People were really cheering!
Saint Lucia will receive more attention from the world. We have had two Nobel Prize winners and now an Olympic star. Sir Arthur Lewis and Sir Derek Walcott have received the recognition they deserve. Julian Alfred will also receive the recognition she deserves.
The St. Lucia government has formulated the slogan “People First” and I have no doubt that the government will do everything to recognize and reward her outstanding performance. I believe that the government led by Philip J. Pierre is currently planning various ways to recognize and reward our Sprint Star Julian Alfred.
As an educator, I know deep down in our children’s hearts, they want to be like Julien Alfred; like our JuJu.
Now, even during her career, she can work with the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Community Development. Now, I will not try to advise the government on how to use the knowledge and skills of Julian Alfred because they know very well what needs to be done.
Saint Lucians are very supportive and when it comes to supporting a fellow Saint Lucian or a group of Saint Lucians, their approach is unique in the world.
In fact, Julian Alfred’s stardom will bring huge benefits to Saint Lucia. It will definitely promote the development of tourism, which will in turn improve the economic situation in Saint Lucia, etc.
Now, I am certain that the “going home ceremony” for Julien Alfred and the rest of the team will be something we have never seen in St. Lucia.
I eagerly await their return home, as well as all Saint Lucians back home and abroad.
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