Our Year 12 students are heading into their final week of High School and with that they are about to begin the final tasks of Year 12 including the HSC and their first steps into life beyond school. For some it’s a “hooray, finally!” moment and for others it is a little sad and we aren’t allowed to talk about it yet. This milestone is being celebrated in a range of ways next week and soon our Year 12 class will be off on the adventure of their lives.
I know when I was graduating both High School and University the ‘what comes next’ question was a tough one to answer and as I have been working with our students in their Careers period it has been one that has challenged them. In our class of nine students we have a diverse range of careers including; law, engineering, nursing, teaching, working with animals, social work and sports science and they all have a great desire to want to make an impact on the world around them.
Like every year that graduates PCS they will leave here and be missed. The impact these students have had on the culture of our school is something to be celebrated. They are the ones who challenge their peers and students in all year groups. They not only want to participate in Peer Support with Year 7 but they are fully invested in making it work well and building relationships. They coach teams and recognise achievements, begin events and build leadership groups that will live on long after they have gone. They have laughed and worked hard and are finishing well. They will be a blessing to whatever university or workplace they choose.
What words can be given to inspire the next lot of graduates as they head out into the big wide world? Many people have tried during commencement speeches for decades.
Words like these to name a few:
“You can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets.” —Arnold Schwarzenegger
“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” —Malcolm X
“The road to success is always under construction.” —Lily Tomlin
“The meaning of life is to find your gift, the purpose of life is to give it away.” —Joy J. Golliver
“No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.” —Taylor Swift
“There is no passion to be found in playing small — in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” —Nelson Mandela
For me, this verse has always inspired me to finish well – And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17
Our Year 12 class has one final thing to do before they can live out the promises of the words above so please keep them and our Year 11s in your prayers as they head into prepping for their HSC exams.
Hollie
