The IB Ceremony Speech, as spoken by Monica Woodward, our IB Coordinator, in the IB Ceremony that took place last friday:
Good afternoon to all,
Standing here in front of this very special audience fills me with such a sense of pride and responsibility. Despite the ups and downs that we all go through in a period of two years of IB education, nothing resonates with me more than seeing our students thrive and grow into very happy fulfilled young adults.
I have been so lucky to have some of our alumni visit CGB this year, every single one of those that has returned to our school, has done it with a big smile on their face and with a range of stories that show passion and a sense of achievement. How incredible to see that you have all found a path in life, that is exciting and that will gradually unfold into years of discovery and great learning.
So what do I see in the faces of our alumni? I see happy, confident, empowered students who are loving their university experience and who I am sure will contribute positively to the world. And what else could I ask for? Well, other than the profound echo of, “Monica, it was worth it!”
However, we all know that it wasn’t always a smooth path for our alumni… it took determination, discipline and dedication to get there. Not to mention the tough love that I had to deal out from time to time to keep them on track, because the journey to the light at the end of the tunnel can not be achieved without an element hardship.
Ultimately, it is a combination of your talents and the privilege to be here at this school that celebrates and cultivates your strengths and that has your present and future at the core of its endeavours.
Year 12 and 13, as it has been beautifully put “the best way to predict your future is to create it.” And how powerful it is to embrace “Education as the passport for the future, because as Malcom X once said “tomorrow belongs to those who prepared for it.
Our alumni receiving their Diplomas and Certificates today, were sat in those seats a year ago, and they were also filled with intrepidation and in some cases anxiety. But look at them now, they are continuing to build on a solid path to achieve their
The IB has certainly facilitated this process because they are extremely well equipped with the right skills, dispositions and attributes to navigate their educational journey. But most importantly, it has prepared them, to be grounded individuals. We as educators must never forget that what lies at the core of what we do, is our ability to help shape our students to be solid humans who can think about their role in the world.
I was particularly moved by one student who’s final IB year was surely the worst, of her life, both emotionally and educationally, however, her dogged determination and inability to be dragged down by failure, culminated in fantastic IB success. In the words of Maya Angelou: “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, and how you can still come out of it.” In other words, those who avoid failure avoid success. Consequently, it is important to understand our mistakes and learn the lessons they provide to us, in doing so you will become a more complete human.
So regardless of how straight forward or steep your road has been so far, get out there and go for it! Follow your inner voice and have the strength to enjoy this moment with the great privilege of shaping your future and getting closer to your dreams. As for me, it is an absolute privilege to witness and support such important moments in your lives.
Thank you
Monica Woodward, IB Coordinator.
We hope that you liked the IB Ceremony Speech, and that you appreciate all the effort that our CGB alumni have put in this IB Diploma Programme.