Old Boy’s Right of Passage address

from St David's Marist Inanda - 2021 Yearbook

Water polo

Rite of Passage address from the Chairman of the Old Boys’ Association

October 2021

Good evening to Mr Thiel, the heads of houses, the teachers present, the Old Boys present, the Old Boys’ Association committee members and, of course, the guests of honour tonight; the matriculant class of 2021.

Before we sing the praises of the matrics, let me take the opportunity to thank all of those who have made this evening possible: • Mr Thiel as our host – this is an event that draws many Old Boys back to the school every year and we thank you for your hospitality • Mrs Kathy Taylor, Head of Alumni Relations – the engine of running the alumni programmes, and who has organised this evening faultlessly • The support staff in the catering department – for preparing tonight’s delicious dinner

And now to the matrics – the Rite of Passage is an evening that serves as an important marker of your journey towards completing school at St Davids. Only a few important steps lie in front of you before you can say that you are finished as a schoolboy.

However, once you have moved on from being a pupil here, this doesn’t mean the end of your connection with the school; far from it. As Old Boys, you will now be a part of a community that spans generations (as evidenced by all those present tonight, not in blazers).

It was on this premise that the Old Boys’ Association was founded. In short, it was established: • To provide an access point for alumni to connect with the school and each other, whether it would be in a social, business or philanthropic context • To contribute to upholding the ethos and traditions of the school and the St David’s Manifesto, while remaining relevant to the boys and the school in a modern context • To contribute to the philanthropic work that provides opportunities to current schoolboys by investing time and raising funds, in collaboration with the Foundation, for the benefit of the boys

Ultimately we intend to be the invisible connection between the schoolboys and the Old Boys.

And at some point in the future, once the commotion of finishing matric and jumping into the new-found freedoms and challenges that it comes with have subsided, you may want to reconnect with this magnificent institution, for any of the reasons I listed above. You are all welcomed, at whatever stage of your lives, current and future, to reconnect with the St David’s family; and the Old Boys’ Association will be there to help you.

Coming back to tonight. It would be easy for me to jump right into a lecture about the challenges that lie before you. But you have so many more inspirational mentors in your teachers around you, who would do a far better job than I could. As a side note, Mr Smith was one of my mentors when I was writing matric, and you would do well in taking his advice. Thank you for your service, Mr Smith.

Rather, I believe that I am better serving you by delivering a message from the Old Boys community, for what you now face … Take heart, for you have faced worse! What you as a group have experienced in the past two years, being the most important of your school careers, could be described as nothing short of challenging, stressful or disappointing, given the cards you were dealt.

But what you may not know is that for the outside observers looking in, you have shown character, fortitude and courage in the face of adversity to be able to get to the point you are, still standing and with determination to succeed. In short, you have lived up to your school’s motto in ways few matric years before you would have had to, and the Old Boys community stand up and applaud you.

There is no doubt that you will face many more challenges once you leave the hall behind us for the last time, but if you can, recall this period and show the same resolve; and few obstacles will remain unconquered.

We wish you luck in all your endeavours and welcome you all as Old Boys of St Davids.