(Observer by Newsco) Last week, delegates to the annual Youth Congress of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union received educational and powerful addresses, one of which was delivered by Jamion Knight, an international psychotherapist and former United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) official.
Knight, who is Founder of the Mental Fitness Centre and Knight Global Development Group, captivated the audience with his candid narratives and profound messages on resilience, mental flexibility, and the importance of community support.
He began by emphasizing a fundamental truth: “You cannot grow or progress on your own. You cannot do this alone.”
Reflecting on his early life, the former UNESCO official revealed that he recognized life’s difficulties at the tender age of just 10. His childhood, he said, was marked by hardship and coming from a large family of 17 siblings in impoverished circumstances, he had to help his mother sell beer bottles and work in restaurants to support his dreams of becoming a pilot and attending university.
Jamion Knight
He admitted that he faced financial obstacles, but his community played a vital role in his journey. He recounted that a kind lady at church once gifted him $20 to help with his education, illustrating that success is often a collective effort. He challenged the notion of self-made success, asserting that “there is no self-made millionaire. Everything you have depends on someone else.”
Knight also shared invaluable lessons learned from personal experiences.
One notable experience in 2016 involved organizing an international conference that was plagued by mishaps – from electrical failures to forgotten presentations, leading him to collapse physically and emotionally. He recounted how such failures, while painful, are opportunities for growth: “It is through failures that we learn more about ourselves and what we are capable of.”
Humor and humility also featured prominently in his presentation. He recounted embarrassing moments, like walking into a meeting with a bandana on his head, and a terrifying encounter with a man armed with a gun. These, he said, reminded him of the importance of laughter and resilience in the face of adversity.
Knight posited that compassionate approaches extended to life lessons on trust and vulnerability.
Working with boys in prison, he shared that taught him that trust is fragile—and once broken, difficult to repair.
His message was clear: “It is okay to not be perfect. It is okay to have moments of fragility, but it is equally important to speak to someone who can support you.”
He emphasized that growth is not a straight line; that youth ought to embrace their journeys, imperfections, and setbacks; and to remember that resilience, community, and trust are the pillars that support true progress.
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