Sports and Education: Two Sides of the Same Coin at I Am Conference 2025

Young Barbadians have been told the combination of sports and education can empower them to achieve greatness.

The advice came from Guidance Counsellor at Combermere School, Kim Jones, whilst speaking on the subject of ‘Education and Sports’ at the third annual I AM Conference which is now taking place at the Hilton Barbados Resort.

The Ohio State University graduate told the young men and women gathered that sports and education encompass skills development, critical thinking, personal growth, performance measurement, character building, preparation for the future and team building, and dealing with success and failure, amongst other things.

“Education and sports are interconnected and are two sides of the same coin,” Ms Jones posited.

She exhorted the scores of youngsters gathered to get involved in sports, noting that “every experience they encounter is education for a purpose.”

The Guidance Counsellor also emphasised that the attitude they develop will determine if they make it to the top, since many universities turn away persons with only top grades.

She contended that most universities, especially those overseas, are looking for well-rounded students who understand discipline, time management and working together with a team.

Ms Jones said “sports helps to build confidence and resilience, engenders respect for others, whilst encouraging individuals not to give up and to overcome challenges.”

“Sports and education are not separate, they help you to bond, work together and strive for a common goal or purpose,” Ms Jones added.

Ms Jones said through sports and education, individuals can build fantastic careers whilst earning substantial income for themselves, their families and their country.

She said sports helps to combat anxiety as well as foster a sense of control, reduce stress and contribute to better academic performance.

The I AM Conference runs from Wednesday, November 19th to Saturday, November 22nd and focuses on areas such as housing and land ownership, coding and robotics, entrepreneurship, mental health and wellness, sports and employment, employability, agriculture, wealth management, the orange economy and financial literacy.