Your response was to move to compassion, caring and courage. Graduation Speech

Principals Graduation Speech Class of 2018

I too would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land the Murramarang Peoples. And Also, to pay my respects to the Elders past and present and any aboriginal people here today.

I thank all our parents and carers who have taken time to come today. Your support of your young person in this celebration and recognition of this significant event has more power than you know. We present the class of 2018 all 136

This week I heard a statement from a colleague Principal about their school and their students. They said,

“It is hard to measure the immense impact that public education makes for young people. Value adding, the bit that is often so hard to measure, rarely makes that spreadsheet, or headline” and we know at Ulladulla High school we see it right here.

Today.  A school experience that is hard to measure, it just is.

At UHS we build great humans and that is hard to put a mark on.

We pride ourselves in adding value to our students lives, the richness of experience, fostering strengths and growing lifelong skills.

Beyond the mark on a test page, today you have become respectful, caring and future focussed human beings.

Year 12…Making the Summit- with Respect, with determination and just being good humans.

Yesterday, Ninety-six of you made the hike up Didthul (no longer known as Pigeon House Mountain) in the Morton National Park. It has become a tradition at our school over the years for Year 12 students to commemorate the end of Year 12 and high school by catching the sunrise from atop Didthul on your last day before graduation on the end of your school life.

It was an early start for all of you with buses departing school at 3.40 am and beginning the challenging climb, in the dark, just after 4.30am.

Climbing up Didthul has so many layers of meaning.

The climb to the summit takes students over an hour, hats off to

Julian and Jordan, Julian taking just 32 minutes and Jordan 40 minutes. Super effort.

Your journey to the top of Didthul is that metaphor, for 13 years of a school life… it’s an impressive challenge to represent all the challenges you have endured. School life is formative for the rest of your life, no matter how you look at it.

The most important aspect about the climb was not coming first but that everyone made the climb successfully and once we achieve it, we are never the same.

There are students among you, where the journey has been a struggle. Yet you have made it. you have made your family and us very proud. I applaud you.

“What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us” Ralph Emerson

Yesterday you acknowledged each other’s personal journey. I congratulate you all, on cheering on each student who finished, particularly those toward the end. It was such an encouraging environment.  To each and every one of you. Well, done. It’s been such a positive and empowering experience to be part of your school journey.

The ascend to the top of Didthul showed your spirit. The way in which you spent your time with us has been respectful, good humoured, hardworking and mindful. We thank you. 

It’s not about doing… It’s about how you view the world.

It’s not about the doing all those assessment tasks that grows us, but the learning of skills that will carry you to new horizons.

Often the focus on the list of assignments to do, the projects to complete, or the essays to rewrite blur the real growth.

As the content of the HSC exams fade. What remains in you are the skills, the knowing, the way you approach learning, the way you are with people and your attitude to life. This will be your future…

For those who have clearly set goals and worked incredibly hard to achieve them, I commend you. For those who were not so sure… You can choose to write your story from this point. 

Whether you choose to completely re-invent yourself….

Or turn-on your ‘strengths switch’, take time to recognise your strengths, be true to yourself.

To all year 12, You showed all your teachers, particularly over the last 2 years that you won’t let rain (I mean lots of rain, aka Greenpatch), wind, bit of hard yakka and even fire didn’t dampen your spirits and your journey toward your goals.

You have been an absolutely wonderful group of students, exceptional school leaders, talented artists, tremendous sports people, peace makers, environmentalists, mathematicians, coders, robotics engineers, musicians, actors and actresses, authors, performance poetry trailblazers, the list goes on.

It is with great respect that I acknowledge the student leaders, captains, prefects and sports captains. You have been an incredibly inspiring group of people who have shown me and the school community that having courage to step forward for what you believe in has enlivened the hearts and minds of each and every one of us.

It is true to say that courage comes from struggle and suffering. Your Response to bullying and mean-ness was to move to compassion, caring and courage.

 You scaled up compassion, caring and courage.

#Stand in my shoes

#Everyones perfect

#Protecting our environment.

They say leadership

As John quincy Adams…. said.

If your actions inspire others to dream more,

learn more,

do more and become more,

you are a leader.” 

One of our year 9 students Milumba Support Unit students said to me on Wednesday,

“quite honestly miss, I am really sad that year 12 are leaving. Because when they leave, I won’t be able to say hello to them every day. I will miss them”.   And so will we.

Working with young people is the most enriching profession there is… We as teachers are honoured.

And I honour the incredible teachers at UHS, your efforts and your dedication are so very much appreciated. Trust me, they are all gold. Sincerest thanks to your Year Advisor Mr. Matt Skinner and his steady assistant Lorraine.

Year 12 you now join the proud alumni of Ulladulla High School, this is your high school and will always be your high school.

You will join the many doctors, lawyers, celebrities, musicians, athletes, change makers, businessman, editors, baristas, teachers, peacemakers, tradesman, mums and dads who are all part of the great world class school tradition that is Ulladulla High.

Be proud of the outstanding public education you have received, and don’t allow anyone to put your school or the people in it down.

…so… as I conclude…

And of course, in my usual flavour, and my Principals last word…

#SkindogYou are a Legend Thank you #LozDixonTheBestWingmanEver #DeputyBaz5and HalfYearsofLegendariness

#GoodoneSuperSubBetsis

To year 12, all the best for the exams. #practicepersistence #SmashIt

#KeepThatGrit #chooseCourageOVerCOMFORT #Bekind2YourParents and #Dontforget Us

Lastly…

Courage is contagious. Every time, we choose courage, we make everyone around us a little better and the world a little braver.