Just When Things Looked Bad...
Nathan Samuels · May 1st, 2006
This article appeared in the Summer 2006 issue of Your Future
I think there is a danger within the mentality of “today’s Bermudian young person” (myself included). There is a tendency for us to shift between a false sense of security and a real sense of disillusionment. A false sense of security because of the affluent culture in which we are so closely surrounded; a real sense of disillusionment as a result of recognising or experiencing the difficulties often associated with the prospects of personally benefiting from such affluence. Of course not all young Bermudians share these extremes but I do think the tendency is there and the danger or problem is that it shows that we often equate the success or failure of our future with the opportunities we see or can’t see. To a certain extent this is necessary, but life is unpredictable. On the other hand, opportunities have to be there. But if we base our ability to succeed solely on our ability to see future opportunities we may never get out of the blocks because we were too discouraged to begin with or because we thought we had the race won before we had even started. I’ve found that it’s not always about working hard for opportunities. But instead it’s often about working hard period. So that when an opportunity presents itself you’re in a position to take it.
My opportunity came while I was at the Bermuda College. I didn’t see it nor did I expect it. In fact the year it came I thought I was facing a set back. In 2000 I found myself having to do a further semester of classes due to a reduced course load for having been so heavily involved in extra curricular activities, such as the Student Government Council. But since I was going to be at the College for at least another semester finishing off my “two year” associate degree in arts and science it was suggested, by the director of the program at the time, that I enrol in the new Bermuda College/Kent University 1st year law program. And so I did – not knowing where it would take me or if I would even like it.
The course turned out to be hard work – a lot of reading and self-motivated study. But I enjoyed it and made it through and was accepted directly into the second year of law school at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England.
That summer, after applying for about 7 or 8 different scholarships, the firm of Mello Jones & Martin afforded me a second opportunity – making me the recipient of their Legal Scholarship for the 2001-2002 academic school year. I was elated! They ended up continuing the scholarship throughout my academic career, which saw me through my bachelor degree in law and philosophy and my post graduate degree qualification (the Legal Practise Course). Of course, from a financial stand point, the MJM scholarship helped me (and my parents!) tremendously, but their assistance went much further than that. They offered me a job in the firm during my summer and Christmas breaks which created a great contrast for me between the study and practise of law. The partners and associates at MJM have always encouraged me and given me their time and advice.
Since September of 2005 I have been working at Mello Jones & Martin as a pupil (legal trainee) and I am enjoying my time there as I begin to put into practise what I’ve been studying for the past four years. What I found neat though, was that in December of that same year MJM announced the coming addition of a new partner to the firm. What I learned was that the new partner, Mr. Denis de Frias, was not new to the firm at all, but in fact had started at MJM as a pupil and has been with the firm ever since. I don’t know what the future holds for me here at MJM, but it’s great for me to see the level of success a young Bermudian can have who has worked hard and who was once in the same position I find myself today.