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2015
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Ready to Lead Headmaster Temba Maqubela addressed the Form of 2015:
Peter Nam, Layla Varkey, and Ryan Metro
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ne of the graduating senior’s siblings gave me an idea to talk about the growth of the Sixth Form. I pondered the implication of the phrase—growth of the Sixth Form—and realized I had to go beyond: “I have big dreams for each and every one of you” or “Inclusion is our story,” which you have heard often from me. Your dreams were to focus on passing the next test or doing well on the next paper or even beating St. Mark’s in lacrosse, or Andover in tennis, or even Belmont Hill in baseball. You were not thinking about this day or beyond Prize Day. Now that the day has finally come, I will tell you the dream, and it is not necessarily the cliché you hear about
being leaders of tomorrow. My dream is for you to be equipped to lead and to serve when called upon to do so or when the need arises. This is a rather humble outlook on the meaning of cui servire est regnare—be ready to lead when the need arises or when called upon to do so. Having said that, I can say with absolute conviction (and I promise I am not biased) that if or when called upon to lead in any situation, every member of this form will be ready to do so. Why this conviction, you might ask? What undergird Groton School are the unshakable pillars of scholarship, service, spirituality, and globalism. I have observed Groton’s way of preparing malleable and ductile minds of teenagers, and it is extraordinary. As evidence, let me briefly take you through two of these pillars: Scholarship—There are few independent schools that demand more of the students on a daily basis than Groton does. And in doing so, the school has ensured that the students are imbued with foundations of scholarship over a period of at least 165 teaching days per year, mostly five periods per day. When you were in Lower School, supervised study hall and no gallivanting taught you the discipline and work ethic you will take with you wherever you go. In addition, as a result of Groton’s academic program, you’re departing with a working knowledge of classics as well as proficiency in another language; writing and appreciation of literature that is second to none; unparalleled schooling in the humanities and the fine and performing arts; and a strong foundation in mathematics, sciences, and