Head of prefects’ address

Guiliano Maraschin

Before we start, I would like to say that this is definitely a slightly longer speech than I have had the privilege of delivering at St Davids thus far (please don’t stress I would never try to compete, Mr Thiel). It is certainly different to what you are accustomed to hearing from me. This is truly my heart on a page.

For those of you who know me well, you will know that in keeping with my true Italian personality and heritage, I am known for my quick responses, thinking on my feet and seldom being at a loss for words, but today I want to let you all in on a secret: reflecting on my Marist journey and on the people seated before me, I am left speechless.

We were warned that the matric year would be difficult, “Don’t drop your heads over underachieving,” they said, “It’s okay to just hang in there,” they said. The class of 2021 looked these statements dead in the eye and said “We hope you are watching closely, because it’s not our names you are going to hear tonight or see engraved along these walls but rather you are going to feel our presence”. And tonight boys, I feel that presence, and I’m truly humbled by it.

This past year we were all asked to make extraordinary sacrifices for each other. These sacrifices were not in vain. Together we created a strong environment at St David’s for a new form of learning, for growing and achieving.

Personally, I had to put my humour aside and focus on the wellbeing of my fellow brothers and community because, like most of you, I often struggled to navigate the complexities that this pandemic presented to us.

I chose to play my cards close to my chest and kept vigil in a heightened state of awareness, holding space with the hope that no member of our community would ever feel unseen, unsupported or alone.

I don’t want to dwell on sorrows of this year, we have certainly missed out on and lost a lot by normal standards, but these are not normal times and I can say with pride that our community has held its own.

It’s time for a new era, this coliseum will be rebuilt, it may take some time, but what has been made crystal clear is that St Davids is not a rising force, a new marvel or a setting sun. House of Inanda is a place where greatness lies deeply entrenched in its foundations; if this was not evident before it is only because we just weren’t looking closely enough. We have been tested, we have been refined.

Together we have cleared the rubble of failure, hardship and uncertainty from the grounds of St Davids and have cast new pillars. Each and everyone of you, staff and students, have played a vital role in building these pillars. This farewell to the current matric group does not mean that our work here is done. It simply means that where before we came together as 133 boys, now we stand strong in unison and leave as 133 men.

In having travelled this journey with these 132 men, I was asked what special moments stood out for me during my year of service as Head Boy. The truth is, it wasn’t the days when accolades were awarded or won, or the supposedly lavish lunches the matrics thought I was having each time I visited Mr Thiel’s office at break time (in retrospect, sir, on some days we should’ve cracked open a single malt). Special as all these were, the memorable moments were the many unassuming moments with my fellow brothers and teachers that made this experience truly special.

I will forever remember Chris Michael’s more than audible happy birthday war cries at college line up which undoubtedly prompted most mortified students to want to reschedule their birthdays to an undisclosed date. Nkoli’s complex questions that could easily have found their way into any IEB AP maths paper, and one cannot forget Kaelin Poovalingam’s skill at writing accounting tests despite never having completed a single activity in his work book as well as his die-hard dedication to pancake consumption on Shrove Tuesday (side note, Kaelin did stay true to his commitment and quite literally ate into the allocated time for his accounting test – a true unsung hero among us).

Not many of us get the opportunity to stand on this podium, acknowledge and thank the very people who supported, shaped and changed us for the better.

To my parents and sister – there would be no Giuliano Antonio Maraschin, Head Boy of St David’s, son, brother, friend, without you. You raised a boy into a man in a home that only ever encouraged me to be the truest version of myself, you gave me the space and freedom to discover and grow, to shine my own light. I hope I have made you and the Maraschin family (present at St Davids for 63 years), proud. Non posso ringraziarvi abbastanza [I cannot thank you enough].

To teachers such as Doctor Higgo, Mrs Greensill and Mrs Hatfield who encouraged me to do better and inspired me to be better and reminded me to take a load off, thank you.

To the executives [who] walked beside me this year, thank you for your trust, your guidance and your support.

To my deputies, I find great humour and joy in comparing our relationship to a “marriage”. None of us could have functioned alone and despite our commitment and affection for each other, we certainly had our fair share of arguments even though we knew full well that in the end our “mothers” would always be right. The moment all three of you put on that blazer and stood by my side in leadership, my perspective on what I valued in this world shifted.

Mohammed, my own personal discovery on what it means to be a man wouldn’t be complete without your guidance and presence, when people ask me who I looked to when times got tough, I didn’t need to look very far, you were always a simple glance away.

To Manqoba, besides being my personal bodyguard, your strength and resilience as a man still leaves me speechless to this day, don’t ever change, because then I would have to change my role-model in life.

To Daniel, your confidence and rational thinking has played an integral part in our leadership body for 2021 and I cannot thank you enough for your persistence in holding us all to a higher standard.

To my personal band of brothers, my friends. Fratelli per sempre. You know who you are …

A special mention to Matthew, Jacob and Rohan for being life-long brothers whose support inspired me to continue even through the toughest times.

To the Grade 8s and 9s, embrace your years in high school with fervour. Hold strong through what may seem to be a never-ending daunting experience. Keep your faith strong, let the Lord be your guide and remember to always stay true to your values and to your friends. Grade 8s, I’m truly sorry that we were not able get to know each other on a more personal level at Grade 8 camp which did not happen this year, but you are surrounded by a unique brotherhood. Look to them for your guidance and inspiration and when your turn comes be that inspiration to your Grade 8s.

To the Grade 10s and 11s, the keys are officially yours, I could write an entire separate speech giving you advice on what to expect, but I rather leave the exciting, unexpected moments as unique gifts for you to discover. It will be difficult in your senior years at high school, but just remember its not about pleasing people or achieving accolades its about connecting with those who matter the most. With my swan song nearly at its end lets address the elephant in the room. Yes matrics, it’s our last family function together, enjoy these closing moments. I’m not quite sure how its going to feel like not seeing you all every day. The void is palpable and the wave of emotions will rise as it must, but the prevailing thought at the back of my mind over the last few weeks has been, how does one say goodbye to everything and everyone that has brought the most happiness and fulfillment to one’s life?

As they say in Italian “Era gia tutto previsto”– It is written in the stars, so surrender, trust and have faith that it is as it should be, there is peace in this.

To Mr Thiel, Mr Bauer, Mr Smith, staff of St David’s, the parents and the boys of Inanda. It’s time for me to hang up my blazer for the very last time, to hand over the title of Head Boy to my successor and to revel in profound gratitude at all the blessings that have been a part of my journey at St David’s.

“To get something you never had, you had to do something you never did” – I can proudly say that I am blessed to have travelled the Marist journey and what I gained were 600 brothers, and a brotherhood of men. That is something precious that can never be taken away from me.

It’s been an unforgettable privilege and an honor to serve you all as the Head boy of 2021, “arrivederci”, until we meet again!