When CCSC opened its doors in 2013 I was lucky enough to score the Year 9’s as my mentor group. Throughout the last four years I have had the privilege to follow them through their college years to the end of this journey. Here is my speech which I delivered at the Year 12 formal a few weeks ago.
Good evening, welcome and thank you for attending our 2016 Year 12 formal.
I am hoping that my speech will be better than Gavin’s last year- for a start I have brought along all of my speech notes and not left half of them in the printer at college.
Tonight is about you. To celebrate your time at CCSC and your freedom.
With this freedom from college and the confines of conformity comes responsibility.
A responsibility of yourselves to your parents and family, to your friends, your teachers and coaches and most of all to yourselves.
This moment, I hope will etch forever in your memory and be recollected in years to come as a milestone which plays a significant part in your life.
I hope that it serves as a constant reminder of your past and a connection to your future.
The past four years would look very different to each of you.
Emily, Tamar, Jack, JJ, Lachlan, Louis and Trent have remained the ‘originals’, seven students who started CCSC on the same day as the doors opened.
I was assigned the mentor role to these incredible bunch of people.
My memories of that day include a whole college photo on the verandah of building 25 and games on the oval.
We had the whole of the high college in building 27 and our work area was at a long table by the PE equipment cupboard as you first come in.
You worked busily on the first three day project ‘who am I’? The final product being a speech about you- most of you were shy and quiet. Boy how that changed.
Throughout the next two years we said ‘goodbye’ to many but welcomed Roxanna, Blake, Daylen, Ewan, Matt, Oscar, Rhys, Ryan, Shanan and Trent.
Each bringing their own unique character to the space, making it lively and purposeful.
From the past we move into our present: the here and now. This moment where I can look at you all and smile knowing that for each one of you WE have contributed to your life in someway which has made a difference.
In the present I want to ask you ‘who are you now’?
How have you become the person you are today?
For me at your age my biggest influences were firstly my parents followed by my PE teachers, athletic and netball coaches.
They were the people who invested endless amounts of time and energy into me. Going over and above their roles to ensure that I had the best opportunities possible. Of course at the time I really did not realise the magnitude of this, on my life. I realise this now and I am immensely grateful to have had such positive influences in my life.
At CCSC you have all been blessed with daily contact with teachers and coaches who have invested endlessly into your lives.
Each offering a different perspective for you, allowing you to widen your views, gain a greater understanding and in turn become independent in your decision making.
Who have been your biggest influences and guides and what can you take from these people that will add value to your life?
As we move now to your future I will ask you – who do you want to be?
I would like to offer all of you a small token gift which I hope will remind you of your past, present and future. (The following items were gifted to each student in a small box.)
Firstly, I offer you a:
Puzzle piece:
This puzzle piece is part of the greater picture and will remind you that you are an important part of it.
You are all part of the CCSC puzzle – we would could not exist without you. With you all moving forward in your lives it may feel like pieces of the puzzle are missing. Feel comforted that you will never be alone and you all fit together.
Cotton Ball:
This small ‘squidgy’ relatively random item is included as it will cushion the rough roads ahead. There will be many times where life will get tough and you will find yourself falling down. The fluffy soft ball will break your fall and propel you back up and towards the correct pathway.
Clothes Peg:
This small wooden item will remind you to ‘hang in there’. I am sure that if there haven’t been times in the past, there will certainly be many in the future where you find yourselves in situations which are difficult to cope with. ‘Hang in there’ the moment will pass.
Gum Stick:
Will remind you to stick with it and never give up. You are all sports-minded people with huge talents. Challenges will be presented to you and you must continue to demand the very best from yourselves. Do not give up.
Paper Clip:
To help you hold things together. Relationships, work, life, sport; it is a tremendous balancing act to get these elements to complement each other and work for you. Often you will find that you lose sight of one or more elements, throwing your journey out of whack. Use the paper clip to hold them all together and you will be able to shuffle them according to their ever-changing priority.
A Rubber Band:
To help you stretch beyond your current boundaries and act as a reminder to remain flexible.
Oh my will you need to be flexible! Give and take in all aspects of your life is essential if you are seeking balance … Many people will test you and you may not agree with their perspective. Flexibility in adapting to situations can often eliminate parameters, propelling you forward like a catapult into greatness.
An Eraser:
To rub out the small mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, it is how we learn. Remember that even though we can erase the mistake the indent it leaves is always visible. Just don’t make the same mistake twice.
A Button:
Sometimes you may need to ‘button your lips’. This will apply to some more than others (Oscar).
Knowing when to speak and when to listen is a gift. It is imperative to be able to balance these to allow us to gain an understanding of each other and so that we are able to communicate effectively. Think before you speak or ‘button your lips’.
Some stars:
To remind you to reach for them. Each one of you are highly capable of achieving your goals and ambitions. The hardest part right now is knowing what they may be.
A Pair of eyes:
To remain focused and have vision in all you do. At times your purpose may become unclear and you may struggle in your direction. Use both eyes to remain focused on your goals and success will be yours.
Two Hearts:
Remember that no matter what you do there are always people who love you. A heart for you and one to give away. Love and be loved.
A Candle:
To light your path when darkness falls. There will be many times in your life where the path you are walking becomes unfocused and you are unable to find a clear way through. The candle will allow you to bring brightness to your way. To shed light where there are shadows.
And lastly,
A Pencil:
It’s your life, go and write your own chapters …
So this brings my speech to a close.
All that is left is for me to wish you all well as you venture into the unknown.
As you embrace your new found freedom, please remember who you are.
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