KAIS KHIMJI
BASKETBALL, SOCCER
SCHOOL: St. George’s (Vancouver)
FRESHMAN’S FUTURE (Harvard)
Good afternoon Dr. Matthews, Mr. Lawrence, Mrs. Bentley, members of the platform party, parents, grandparents, uncles who weren’t invited but showed up anyway, staff, friends of St. George’s, students, and most importantly my fellow graduates.
I’d just like to begin by saying how honoured and grateful I am to speak on behalf of this group of gentleman to my right. I understand how serious my task is here today so I prepared with the same intensity you grade 12s would put into a final year paper… so late last night I started writing.
In all seriousness, as I prepared for this speech, I read all the valedictory addresses in the Georgian up until 1995. I wanted to say something unique, something that had never been said before, something that would adequately articulate the ineffable experience that is St. George’s school. As I read speech after speech, I slowly came to the realization that our experiences, our sense of belonging, pride and community – everything – had already been said before. I must admit that I was a little deflated because it just did not seem possible that anyone could have had the experiences that we have shared.
Ismailimail 