Nadège G. Knight, Saint Lucia

My day usually starts and ends in prayer. At six o’clock in the morning, I always thank God for blessing me with the breath of life. I have breakfast right after and when that is done, I comb my hair for school, brush my teeth and then take a shower. I get dressed and at seven o’clock, I leave home to catch the bus.

Once in town, I take a ten minute walk to my school where I usually arrive just before eight. I have some free time until the first school bell rings at ten to nine o’clock, at which time the entire school lines up in the yard until the second bell rings for silence. A third bell rings indicating that it is time for students to proceed to the assembly hall for our morning prayers. It is then we begin our first class of the day.

I have a fifteen minute break at ten thirty and then an hour lunch at twelve noon. Classes continue thereafter until three o’clock. I take extra lessons from Monday to Wednesday which commence at three thirty until five o’clock.

I get back home in the afternoon around five thirty where I begin my homework, get something to eat and then take a shower. I end the day in prayer and prepare for bed at eight o’clock.

In the news, I always heard about Commonwealth but never really understood what it meant until my teacher taught about its importance at school. We learned which countries fell under its laws, what the objectives were and how the organization helped those countries. When I learned that there was an essay competition which I could take part in, I was excited. It is at this point I started to read about the Commonwealth in more detail.

In my opinion, the organization exists to bring peace and equality to the countries it governs. It is an avenue for economic building and development and also a starting point for the elimination of poverty. To me, the Commonwealth is like a breath of fresh air and the answer to the prayers of many. It is a great organization that takes into account the well being of others around the world. I would like to thank the Commonwealth for everything it has already done and all it will do in the future.