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

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Valedictory Address Honoured Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow Graduates: At this moment both I and my fellow graduates feel we are on the doorstep of adulthood. The sheltering security of Brentwood now lies only on the peripheral edges of our vision, mostly behind, while looming ahead is the vast, and new world of endless possibilities. This world, awaiting our energy and our contributions, we face with a mixture of hope, and fear. However, at this moment I think the graduating class feels more than anything else, curiosity. I say curiosity intending to expose the motivation and spirit of this year ' s graduates in a positive light; nonetheless, I must concede the crux of our curiosity is confusion. Confusion because we realise in our youth we lack experience, and tend to be idealistic. Also we know endless obstacles await us in life, and surely as many mistakes. But, to lighten our confusion a little, this years graduates understand that through trial and failure, or more importantly, and hopefully more often, through inspiration and success, we will grow and we will learn. The past year at Brentwood has been a very successful and rewarding one for all members of our class, chiefly because this year ' s graduates share a mutual comfort, and warmth amongst all members. It is an affinity our class understands, and is proud to be part of. As a class we are strong, but as individuals we must also be strong because what the future holds for us no one can say, except that in today ' s economy it is becoming increasingly hard to prosper — a fact which will remain true for at least the most decisive years of our lives. Therefore, it is with considerable anxiety we leave the embrace of Brentwood, and enter the world to face its many tests, and com- plexities. Now, of course, the graduating class must consider why we are at this moment of transition, and how we came to be here. After all, we are in a privileged position and owe thanks to many people for helping us achieve this favoured situation. First we offer thanks to the love and forethought in our parents, who decided to invest more than the tuition, but the future of their child, or children, in Brentwood. Next, our parents away from home, the academic staff, friends we shall always remember as the people who made this community run so smoothly, we express our sincere gratitude. In closing I wish to offer the graduating class of 1983 my own thanks for giving me the honour of being your valedictorian. May I express the feelings of everyone at this moment summed up in a slightly changed version of a well-known remark by the World War II leader, Sir Win- ston Churchill — You have given us the tools, we will finish the job . L. Philipp 14