The following speech was delivered by
Alexia Abramson, outgoing Head Prefect of 2015 at Camps Bay High School, at the Matric Valedictory Ceremony held at the school on 16 October 2015:
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| Above: Alexia Abramson delivers her Matric Valedictory Speech |
Good morning Mr de Korte, Mrs de Korte, Mr and Mrs Harvey, Staff, Honorable Parents, invited guests, pupils and a special good morning to the Matrics of Camps Bay High School.
This time last year we were embarking on the final stretch, the beginning of the end. It is crazy to think how quickly 365 days can fly by.
We are now at the end of our High school career, some of us are more confused than others, some of us know exactly what it is that they want to do.
I would like to tell you a short story from ancient China it made me think of all of us, our Matric class.
An elderly woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of the same pole, which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" "That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
We each have our very own and unique flaw, but, Matrics of 2015, each and every single one of our cracks and flaws make our lives together that much more interesting and rewarding.
I cannot believe that this is it, the final stretch, the memories that we have shared together have been so incredibly amazing.
Our final chapter of our epic five-year book is closing and we will carry it in our heart with us, wherever we may roam as the experiences have shaped each and every one of us into the people we are today. We will page fondly through this book of memories and we will be remembering the best years of our lives, no longer students of CBHS, but as past pupils!
I am so sad to end this chapter in my life, but so happy to have shared it with all of you. Thinking back on all of the highlights, laughs and fun times will only bring back beautiful memories.
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For it was not in my ear that you whispered, but in my heart.
It was not my lips that you kissed, but my soul.
It was not me that you touched, but my life.”
Thank you for making this chapter a GREAT one.
“Eye spy with my little eye, an amazing story…"
Alexia Abramson
Head Prefect, 2015
