Graduation 2020
Valedictorian Address Iman Kassam
There are few words and metaphors in this universe that are precise enough to capture the emotionally complex and intellectually challenging journey that each of us has travelled in the past two years. I therefore turn to a different, arguably more powerful, universe: the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU follows a carefully selected group of superheroes, The Avengers, who save lives from total destruction by gathering six ‘infinity stones’: Power, Mind, Time, Reality, Soul, and Space. These six stones, when used in harmony, yield transformative power to their possessor. That’s the kind of the power that being an IB student gives you. t h e p o w e r s to n e
From the moment we began the MYP, we embarked on a curriculum that would not only empower us but teach us how to use our power. The Diploma Programme (DP), taught us to harness the power given to us by its intensity. We are thankful to have been empowered and aim to use it well. t h e m i n d s to n e
The rigor and challenge of the IB ensured that no day passed without exercising our own minds. In lessons we learnt to challenge assumptions and ourselves. The Extended Essay let us reach beyond the curriculum to independently carry out in-depth research on a subject of our choice. The CAS program taught us to turn our imaginations into solutions, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and to help others. Our minds are independent, expressive, reflective, and emotionally intelligent, prepared to take on the uncertain world that lies ahead. t h e t i m e s to n e
We have shared treasured moments as the Class of 2020. We will never forget our first retreat where we established a special bond. From sharing jokes and tears, to stealing breadsticks from the dining hall when lunch staff weren’t looking: these are the times that we will never forget.
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And as we journeyed through the IB, confronted with consecutive days of deadlines or tests that didn’t always go our way - we drew our strength from each other. Our positivity and ability to turn any blunder into a humorous situation has allowed us to support and strengthen each other. Our sense of community, sisterhood and empathy for one another are what make the Class of 2020 unique. t h e s o u l s to n e
We are eternally grateful to our teachers for their unfaltering support, for their encouragement to strive for our best, and for who they have helped us to become. On retreats or in hallway conversations, the moments outside the classroom are where their impact was greatest: helping each of us to find our paths and trust our souls. t h e s pa c e s to n e
The final infinity stone, capable of opening portals across galaxies and revealing life beyond Earth. The IB does not yet permit students to take field trips to the moon, but this stone represents life beyond Marymount. We can never be truly ready for what lies ahead, but we are fortunate to have been IB students. Over the past two years, we have learned how to use our power, train our minds to think beyond a textbook, garner the ability to trust our souls, and gather knowledge on the global challenges that lie ahead. With all six stones in our possession, and with each lesson of the IB firmly rooted in our brains, we can change the world. I would like to finish by quoting the masterful Lord Alfred Tennyson who in his poem Ulysses wrote; “That which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will. To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” To all of you, on behalf of this graduating class, I say with confidence, that the Class of 2020 will never yield. We will live to strive and make this Marymount community proud of our endeavours. Thank you.