I would like to share with you an extract from the words that I offered the Class of 2025 at their Graduation Dinner last night.

“[In this speech] it is customary to express that now you have reached the point where you are ready to graduate into the big wide world and experience real life. But I want to let you in on a secret – there is only one world and this is it. You have been in it. There is only one life and you have been living it. This means that you do not have to be different.

Yes, you will go to new places, meet new people and experience new things. But fundamentally the core ingredient in how you interact with the world is you. Your character, your identity, your attitude and your values.

And that’s why I know that you will be a success.

The best advice I can give you as you enter this next stage is to be yourselves, take confidence in the character and personality that you have developed through the mutual efforts of your wonderful families, teachers and friends.

There is a lovely parable that I shared with your parents at an information evening a few years ago. It was shared with me by my predecessor at KDS, Michele Bernshaw. It involves a family who packed all their belongings into a cart in order to move from one town to the next one. They completed the journey across a number of days. When they finally arrived at the outskirts of the new town they encountered an old woman sitting on a rock and they went up to her and asked if she was from the town. She said that she was. They asked, “What are the people in this town like?” She responded, “Tell me, what were the people in your last town like?” 

The father responded: “They were all horrible. They were judgmental, competitive and exclusive. They gossiped maliciously and that’s why we are seeking a new place to live.” The old woman said. “You will find people like that in this town too.” The family drudged off ahead.

Later on that day another family came along with their wagon to the outskirts of town. They approached the same elderly woman who was still perched on the rock and asked her, “What are the people in this town like?” She responded the same way. “Tell me, what were the people in your previous town like?” The response, “Oh, they were wonderful! So caring and warm hearted. They would do anything to look after one-another. We are devastated to leave but we could not find work there. We hope to stay in touch with our many friends from there.” The old woman said. “You will find people like that in this town too. I am sure you will be very happy.” The family members thanked the woman, beamed with delight and moved forward towards the town.

This story tells us an important message. Our attitude is crucial in determining our experience. If we bring positivity and open ourselves up to others and new experiences with optimism, we are far more likely to be rewarded with them.

Unfortunately, the world does not always want us to act in this way. Social media, reality tv and the broader cultural zeitgeist seems to platform cruelty, nastiness, cynicism and put downs. 

You have seen a deterioration in the tone of public discourse and some of the world’s most powerful figureheads have cut their paths through tearing others down.

I know that each of you hold a different understanding of what it means to be human. I have witnessed your kindness firsthand. I have seen how you have invited others in and how you have learnt that a full life is one that is shared with others. 

I trust that you can remain open to the wonder of our world, to the pure thrill of learning and the genuine joy of the friendships that sustain us.

On your last day at KDS you were farewelled by a whole community forming a guard of honour for you. As you walked through you had pairs of hands above you which symbolise that you will always have a community that wishes to support and nurture you. 

I am so excited to see the individual and collective impact that you will make on our world tomorrow as I am already filled with nachat in who you are today.“