I am grateful for the achievements I have made and the opportunities given to me over the last seven years.
I’ve travelled to over 20 countries, been to every continent except Antarctica; sat in meetings and social activities with presidents, secretaries general and other governmental leaders; travelled as a motivational speaker, youth leader, musician and missionary; been part of international teams, which drafted communiqués that hopefully would influence the future for young people and received the Minister’s Award for the most outstanding youth in Barbados between 2007 and 2008.
Many people over the last 30 years have helped to shape the Corey Worrell you know today but over the last seven years, there was one person, a lady, who continuously sacrificed her time, shared her knowledge and was generous with her love towards me. That lady is my mentor and friend June Fowler.
In 2004, Family Heartbeat Ministries had an event called Family Fusion at the Gymnasium. It was so well organized and executed that I wanted to know who was responsible for the management and production of it. During the closing of the event, Rev Haynesley Griffith (Rev G) invited June Fowler to the stage as the person who spearheaded the event. I stood in the stands and said, “Lord, there is something about this woman that is special and powerful. I have to meet her. I want her to mentor me.”
A year later, in 2005, Rev G invited Laurel Springer and me to be youth ambassadors for the abstinence till marriage project called Keep Yuh Underwear On. June was present at the meetings and one evening I built up the courage and asked her to be my mentor and she said yes.
That same year, she returned from an International Christian Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) conference in Egypt and had a meeting with me afterward. She told me she wanted me to attend the first ICCC youth conference in Vaasa, Finland, that same year as she believed it would be beneficial to my development as a Christian, youth leader and young entrepreneur. I said, “I would love to go,” and she helped three others and me raise over $24 000 in sponsorship to attend the conference.
The following year, she encouraged me to attend the ICCC annual general meeting in Stuttgart, Germany, with her, which I did.
Come March 1 this year, I will be attending the ICCC international general meeting and conference in Jerusalem, Israel. I am still trying to raise financial support to get there – and guess who is mentoring me through the process? June Fowler.
In 2007, under June’s mentorship and guidance I became the Commonwealth Youth Ambassador of Barbados and one year later was awarded the Minister’s Award in the National Youth Awards.
I have been complimented for my articles in Awright Den. People have spoken highly about the way in which I capture the attention of the reader and how easy it is to follow and understand what I am trying to convey. What people may not know is that I was always poor at written English and over the last seven years I have been coached and mentored by June in this area. So for future reference, when anyone compliments me for my articles, they are in essence complimenting June as well.
On Monday evening I received a message from a friend in Trinidad asking me if the person Chris Sinckler spoke about is the June Fowler I know. I was totally lost as to what she was talking about but after doing some research, I responded that she is.
I am neither partisan nor am I a political scientist, but I am of the view that it was very unwise for a candidate in a national election to publicly insult an individual who is representing the financial interests of over 35 000 policyholders, many of whom are frustrated potential voters.
I really like Mr Sinckler and enjoy hearing him speak. I think he is a very intelligent man who has the potential to make an excellent Prime Minister. The nation has heard the unkind and unnecessary remarks made about Mrs Fowler, and the schoolchildren are repeating them. We need leaders who can say they were wrong and set the right example for others to follow. Remember, God opposes the proud but brings grace to the humble.
• Corey Worrell is a former Commonwealth Youth ambassador.
