Brentwood College School - Brentonian Yearbook (Mill Bay, British Columbia Canada)

Page 17 text:

VALEDICTORIAN ADDRESS Permit me first to thank my classmates, the graduating class of 1980 , for awarding me this great honour, this vast responsibility, this shining post of Valedictorian. I wish to fulfill two vital functions during the course of my remarks. The first, an expression of gratitude; a sincere thank you. The second, a farewell, no less sincere. I was, on preparing this speech, confronted with a vareity of methods upon which to build a presentation. One option - appealing to my audience through tear- rendering emotion. A second method opened doors to unbridled melodrama, while a third gave way to the use of excessive humour dusted, perhaps, with boorish puns. I abandoned all of these, even the humour factor, to seek out a method that would not detract from the sincerity of this address. There are a host of factors which have contributed to the quality of our years here at Brentwood. The unique environment of the school itself has provided the ideal trellis for personal growth; an inner growth so important at this testy age when the individual may tend so easily toward instability . . . and imbalance. This day to day environment has allowed us to nurture our individuality, rather than force us to conform to one stereotyped mold. We must applaud our willing and tireless teachers whose constant prodding, nattering and unfaltering support have helped us form these substantial educational bases we take with us today. We must also recognize and thank those men and women who have so unselfishly forfeited other, perhaps more profitable lifestyles to enhance our lives in residence. Their time and devotion, even their unnerving watchfullness, have taught us the importance of abiding with one another in relative harmony. Our thanks to all house masters and mistresses. Brentwood ' s hardy and demanding sports program and its imaginative offerings in Fine Arts should also be cheered. From a wide spectrum of rigorous and exhilarating sports, such as rowing, rugby and bad- minton, we have gleaned the art of discipline and spor- tsmanship, whilst Drama, Music, Debating, Dance, and many sister arts, have provoked and extended our creative selves. But today we must go from Brentwood: some with glee, some with sorrow, but all with a wealth of rich and lasting memories. We leave next year ' s graduating class, the class of 1981 , with the express wish that they will receive the Brentwood torch and carry it with pride, fortitude and good humour. I can find no more fitting and summary sentiment with which to bid farewell, than that delivered by Brutus to Cassius in Shakespeare ' s Julius Caesar. With Brutus I say: Forever and forever farewell. If we Do meet again, why, we shall smile. If not, why then this parting was well made. R. Day June 1980 13