Year 12 Graduation Speech
It will come as no surprise to you that the word for the year in 2020 was pandemic. I think we could all sit here and accept that this is fair, we get it. When these wonderful students before us began their HSC studies they also entered into a pandemic.
However, the problem with this is that since we entered the pandemic the most common words they have heard are words like social distancing, sanitise, unprecedented, difficulty, hardship, vaccine, isolate, masks you get the point.
When you hear this you would not be mistaken for thinking that giving up, or it being too hard is a natural reaction for adults – let-alone students. And, I would suggest this may have gone through one or two years 12’s minds (and perhaps their teachers and parents too). However, through a few difficult and trying conversations, or the anxious tears and “it is too hard moments” or some “I am done!” conclusions, you, graduating class of 2021, sit before us. Well done.
You sit here in no small reason because of your ability to never give up, your ability to believe in yourself, your ability to persevere and untie together to support one another. You also sit before us because of your ever faithful, ever patient, ever believing, ever forgiving, ever persistent, ever gracious parents and, I will say the same for your teachers. It may be a little presumptuous, but on behalf of the school I would like to say that it has been an honour to walk with all of you through these last two years, it has been so rewarding and a privilege to help where we can.
Such times however, I believe are not unprecedented, they are not too difficult or too hard. Many have gone before us through such difficult times, the book of John in the Bible records Jesus encouraging his disciples by saying that they will have difficult and uncertain times, that the world will throw at us many trials and sorrows, but we should take heart because he has overcome the world and through him, we can have peace in these times. (As an aside, I have realised that when we are at peace, we stand a better chance of being unified and looking after one another well, but I must be careful not to get side-tracked)
Paul, in the book of Romans says that he is grateful for these trials and sorrows because when they come, if we can persevere through them it can lead to character and the character we develop in these times leads to hope. And, graduating class of 2021, you sitting before us today gives us hope!
So, it seems to me that in times like this we have a choice. We can choose to persevere, or we can choose to give up and we know where these choices can lead us.
I want to celebrate the choices the 12s have made this year (well most of them). The fact that you have persevered, that you are here today, that your parents are here today equals character, it equals hope, and it should be celebrated.
To celebrate, this year, rather than encourage based on what we have seen, I would like to encourage based on what I believe what I have seen will lead to, how it will position these students for the future, what I believe they can be and achieve…
Sophie:
For you, Sophie I have this candle of light and hope.
The way you have persevered through setbacks and obstacles is inspiring. You are the kind of person I believe people will look to for some sense of peace and hope in their life, “If Sophie believes in me, maybe I can.” I pray this candle helps you remember your presence can bring peace (the P is for peace!). For you Sophie I pray:
Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Can I pray for you?
Sophie, I pray that you will grow in the knowledge that God sings over you, he will rejoice over you with gladness and you will be still you in his love. I pray also that you would know the joy, peace, encouragement and hope that comes from this and that you will be able to share this with others. Sophie, may God bless you and keep you and strengthen you in 2022 and beyond. Well done, Sophie.
Bailee:
For you I have these stamps and erasers of joy.
I believe that your perseverance through trial and hard times will enable you to bring joy and positivity to situations and the people around you. I pray this reminds you not just of what you have been able to erase and overcome or will overcome, but of the joy and hope you can bring to those around you going through similar circumstances by sharing your experiences, the good and the bad. For you Bailey I pray:
Nehemiah 8:10
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared … Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
I pray that you would be able to see the good and to celebrate what you have and be able to share it with others, that you will be able to know God’s joy and this would strengthen you to continue to share who you are and what you have with b that they may be able to see out and have hope.
Benjamin:
For you I have the gavel of influence.
I believe that what you have learnt and what you have built into your character will enable you to be the one who brings influence in the way of justice, truth and freedom. I hope that this very special gavel, though it looks like a hammer, will encourage you to remember to use what you have learnt for good! Benjamin, for you I pray:
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
I pray that you will know that wisdom comes from reverence, fear and understanding, I pray that you understand what is most important to stand up for and God gives you the strength to fight for justice and mercy and that you are blessed with a humility that brings favour and leads to significant impact for good. Well done, Benjamin.
Kai:
For you I have the paintbrushes of insight and creativity.
I believe that your awareness and understanding of how much good and potential is in you, who you are and who you want to be will provide opportunities for a true creativity that will not only entertain and please others, it will help others understand and believe in themselves more. I hope these paintbrushes remind you to always take the time to value yourself and create. For you I pray:
Psalms 139:14
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvellous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
Kai, I pray that you would know in your soul that you are an incredible human, that it would be an insult to be anyone other than the Kai you are and are becoming. I pray for a strength to celebrate who you are and to share this with those around you in your way so that, in turn, others will realise that they too are an incredible work of art made to have an incredible impact on those around them.
Ben:
Ben for you I have the Elon Musk Cool Cars of Solution and Possibility
I believe that what you have overcome this year, Ben, will enable you to build on your strength of being a solutions person. I believe that your passion for mechanics is the outworking of this. Your ability to see solutions and then not just suggest them and step back, but to get involved and be part of the solution is a credit to you and your family. Ben I hope that the cars remind you the endless possibilities to solve and create in a way that helps others (so not quite Elon Musk…). For you I pray
Proverbs 3:5-8
Trust in the LORD with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.
Ben, I pray that as more and more people come to you for solutions you will be humble and able to help them in a way that doesn’t just fix things but brings life and hope to people. I also pray that as you continue to grow you can discover an understanding and truth in life that you find comfort in and one that brings life and favour, hope and blessing.
April:
For you I have these wings of purpose.
I believe that your journey through school, family and life in the past few years has given you the foundations of determination and insight that I hope will provide you with the ability to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee through what God has in store for you. I pray that these wings will remind you of the wisdom to know when to float and when to sting, when to help and when to fight, when to speak and when to be silent. For you I pray:
Proverbs 3:3-4
Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.
Then you will find favour with both God and people,
and you will earn a good reputation.
April, I pray that you will know peace and bring it to those around you. I pray that you will know wisdom and share it with those around you. I pray that you know hope and use it to inspire others. I pray that you walk into a future that impacts those around you and that your experiences at RCC will provide you with the foundations and direction you need to keep chasing your passion and your dreams, for the good of everyone you encounter.
Kayley:
For you I have the Ferrari of intentional design
The resilience, character and determination you have shown over the many years we have had the privilege of having you at RCC I believe will enable you to bring your wonderful personality to the world. I hope that this Ferrari reminds you of the purpose and power that you have and, like with a Ferrari, as you continue to journey, others will notice and be inspired. Kayley, for you I pray:
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Kayley, we thank God for you and for what you have brought to us by who you are. I pray that you will know how marvellous you are. I pray that you always know how loved you are and that you always walk confidently in the person God has made you to be. I pray that you will always walk this journey with joy, confidence and purpose.
Io:
For you I have the weight of victory.
Io, this year and last year you have overcome. Being here is overcoming. The small and large steps you have taken, forward and backward and forward, I pray will empower you and give you an empathy and an understanding of others that will enable you to empower others toward victory in times of difficulty and uncertainty. For you I believe this weight of victory symbolises what has been and what is to come. For you I pray:
Romans 5:3-5
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Io, I pray that next year will bring fresh opportunities for victory, that it is a time of refreshing and growth. I pray that the time you have had here will provide a foundation on which you can continue to be victorious as you journey. Lord, I ask that you walk with Io, beside and before him, and guide him on a path that will lead to life, hope and joy.
Jack:
For you I have the seeds of life, of growth and of tomatoes
Jack, it is my hope for you that the lessons life has taught you this year will equip you with the ability to face and overcome what life throws at you. For you I hope the seeds of life, of growth and of tomatoes remind you of these enduring lessons, you know, tomatoes because once you plant cherry tomatoes they never go away! This is what I pray for you, Jack.
Isaiah 43:1-3
Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.
I pray that you believe in yourself and the truth and strength that God has given you so, just like tomatoes, it never disappears, instead it keeps on popping up, reminding you to not give up, whether it is the last minute or not, so that the impact you have on others may be one that encourages, esteems, empowers and invests to help them overcome. I pray that you will be blessed to be able to persist to become all that God has planned for you to become.
Hannah:
Hannah, for you I have the sunflowers of quiet influence and strength.
Ever since I arrived, I have watched Hannah be the even keel, the stable influence, the dominant, quiet, resilient, never giving up, never going away, always positively influencing those who care to take notice of what you can do when you know who you are and are not easily swayed. Hannah, for you I hope this sunflower of quiet influence and strength reminds you to grow in who you are. Like a sunflower just goes about its day and follows the sun, building strength and beauty, you have this quiet determination to follow your path, no matter what.
Psalms 27:13
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!
Hannah, I pray that as you grow and encounter more of what life has that you not only maintain your focus, patience and faith, but that you are the sunflower that people see and take notice of. I pray that your influence, your seeds, fall and spread that quiet determination and hope for what is to come. I pray that you will continue to grow into the women that God has intentionally designed you to be so that you can be a strong guide and encourager for those in your community.
Year 12, as you enter this next phase, I encourage you to draw on the foundations you have been given, the lessons you have learnt to make the choice that embraces the people you are becoming and rewrite the narrative of the last two years. Do not let the world dictate to you who you should be or what you should do but play a part in re-writing your story so the words that dominate your world are not ones of fear, uncertainty and confusion, but rather ones that inspire certainty, stability, identity, courage, peace and purpose so that your world can be one of flourishing and hope.
Bless you Graduating Class of 2021.
