Whether you’ve been in the school since grade 2 as 11 of you have, or joined in Grade 11, as many other of you have, or anywhere in between, leaving K-12 education is is one of those significant rites of passage - something you can only do once. And the way that traditions have developed here, over the years, is such that our alumni, when we talk with them, fondly recall a leaving process that they remember with great affection and good humour.
So the process will now continue through this assembly, to Study leave for g10GCSE tomorrow, to Leaver’s day and the Grand Walk on Friday, and end at Graduation.
Before talking to our Grade 12 Leavers directly, I’d like you all to take a moment just to consider where you are in the year. We often get caught up in the daily routines, individual lessons, activities and so on - so that moments like this are important in order that we can step back, place what’s happening in the broader context of our lives and find space appreciate and be grateful for what we have.
So go back 14 - 17 years and you were having your nappies changed; 10 or so years ago you were still learning to talk, to read. More recently you began to grow from children towards adults. Now you’re doing the High School stuff that you know so well, and you’re in the thick of it. But it won't last long; and whether in a few weeks, or a few years, you’ll all be done with school. And if we’ve done it right, you’ll be itching to go - you’ll have outgrown us - likely even be frustrated with school, with us - that’s good; that’s how it should be. You’re ready for the next step. So look ahead - you have long lives ahead of you - these days 18 year olds are, on average, expected to live to 90 or more. And I wonder - are you investing in yourselves for life until 90? Are you thinking about what you’ll need to know, to be able to do, or to understand, so you can have a happy and meaningful life for your next 70+ years?
When you put it like that, it becomes clear that the what you need to learn are yes, of course academic things, but also things like:
And these are important things to consider. Go back to yourself as a toddler - of course, you were not responsible there; you were too young. But now, you’re semi-responsible - and shortly, in a few weeks for some of you, in a few years for others, it’ll all be on you.
In that context, I hope you can look around the room, at your peers, friends, teachers, and recognise that all the things we do are to this end - to help you be the people you want to be. So please think about the best things that have happened to you - Theatre, Service, Expeditions, SEASAC, lessons, Culturama, MUN, Tampines House, Music shows, naan at lunchtime... whatever it is... and see it in that context of you becoming yourself. These are all events that of course, you shape through your participation, but also, that shape you.
That’s true for all of you; but of course for our Leavers, it especially acute because now it’s over to you to carry that good stuff beyond school, into very different environments; which, our alum tell us, are not the same as here. Here I mean all Leavers from 9, 10, 11 too - not just grade 12 - such is the nature of international life that many of you are going; and this is advice for you all:
Leave well. Be remembered for your ingenuity, your sense of fun, your sense of inclusion. Be remembered for being kind - not just to your friends; that’s easy - but also to the people who have made everything you have done here possible - support staff, facilities staff, cleaners and teachers (from PS, MS too - they’ve played just as big a role for many of you as the HS teachers); and also the people you may not have gotton along with, or whom you may have fallen out with.
One mark of a grown-up is the ability to give and receive apologies in good grace; so close your time here ensuring you have mended any fences that need mending. 20 words removed:-) If you can do that, if you can laugh with people, not at people, you will be creating something that enhances, not diminishes, your reputation. Get it right, and you will be remembered for your generosity of spirit and for the kindness of your consideration. Most of all, you’ll be learning a skill that will be profoundly useful throughout your lives.
And as we go through the final few days, through the Grand Walk on Friday, the exams and Graduation, I want to acknowledge what we teachers know, what your parents know, what future employers will know, and what research tells us: that your futures are not determined by your exam results; that your hopes and dreams are not down to the next few weeks. Your success will be measured in the kindness and integrity of your actions, your ability to see other perspectives, the quality of your thinking, and the strengths of your relationships, not in an academic qualification. That will, I hope, provide a reassuring backdrop for the next six weeks.
I know many of you have forged strong relationships across the school, so now we have a special goodbye message to you. Please welcome our Grade 2 students.
So go back 14 - 17 years and you were having your nappies changed; 10 or so years ago you were still learning to talk, to read. More recently you began to grow from children towards adults. Now you’re doing the High School stuff that you know so well, and you’re in the thick of it. But it won't last long; and whether in a few weeks, or a few years, you’ll all be done with school. And if we’ve done it right, you’ll be itching to go - you’ll have outgrown us - likely even be frustrated with school, with us - that’s good; that’s how it should be. You’re ready for the next step. So look ahead - you have long lives ahead of you - these days 18 year olds are, on average, expected to live to 90 or more. And I wonder - are you investing in yourselves for life until 90? Are you thinking about what you’ll need to know, to be able to do, or to understand, so you can have a happy and meaningful life for your next 70+ years?
When you put it like that, it becomes clear that the what you need to learn are yes, of course academic things, but also things like:
- How to be committed to being caring, kind and empathetic so that you’ll be a good friend, and have good friends
- How to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with others - because honestly, you won't achieve much alone, without others
- How to stick with things when they are difficult. Without this resilience, you’ll have no way to overcome the challenges ahead
And these are important things to consider. Go back to yourself as a toddler - of course, you were not responsible there; you were too young. But now, you’re semi-responsible - and shortly, in a few weeks for some of you, in a few years for others, it’ll all be on you.
In that context, I hope you can look around the room, at your peers, friends, teachers, and recognise that all the things we do are to this end - to help you be the people you want to be. So please think about the best things that have happened to you - Theatre, Service, Expeditions, SEASAC, lessons, Culturama, MUN, Tampines House, Music shows, naan at lunchtime... whatever it is... and see it in that context of you becoming yourself. These are all events that of course, you shape through your participation, but also, that shape you.
That’s true for all of you; but of course for our Leavers, it especially acute because now it’s over to you to carry that good stuff beyond school, into very different environments; which, our alum tell us, are not the same as here. Here I mean all Leavers from 9, 10, 11 too - not just grade 12 - such is the nature of international life that many of you are going; and this is advice for you all:
Leave well. Be remembered for your ingenuity, your sense of fun, your sense of inclusion. Be remembered for being kind - not just to your friends; that’s easy - but also to the people who have made everything you have done here possible - support staff, facilities staff, cleaners and teachers (from PS, MS too - they’ve played just as big a role for many of you as the HS teachers); and also the people you may not have gotton along with, or whom you may have fallen out with.
One mark of a grown-up is the ability to give and receive apologies in good grace; so close your time here ensuring you have mended any fences that need mending. 20 words removed:-) If you can do that, if you can laugh with people, not at people, you will be creating something that enhances, not diminishes, your reputation. Get it right, and you will be remembered for your generosity of spirit and for the kindness of your consideration. Most of all, you’ll be learning a skill that will be profoundly useful throughout your lives.
And as we go through the final few days, through the Grand Walk on Friday, the exams and Graduation, I want to acknowledge what we teachers know, what your parents know, what future employers will know, and what research tells us: that your futures are not determined by your exam results; that your hopes and dreams are not down to the next few weeks. Your success will be measured in the kindness and integrity of your actions, your ability to see other perspectives, the quality of your thinking, and the strengths of your relationships, not in an academic qualification. That will, I hope, provide a reassuring backdrop for the next six weeks.
I know many of you have forged strong relationships across the school, so now we have a special goodbye message to you. Please welcome our Grade 2 students.
And so now, for the final time I invite grade 12 to stand, and to leave the Sports Hall. And I ask us all now to show our appreciation for their leadership, their role in the school, and to wish them the best of luck as they leave their schooling.
Nice one Nick. Valedictory speeches take time to do prepare well, whilst keeping it 'simple'. In my experience the key is always to keep your audeince at the front of mind, as you have here.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's kind of a warm up for the big one at Graduation in a few weeks!
ReplyDelete