What follows is a section from my final address to Grade 12 Leavers at the final UWCSEA East High School Assembly last week.
Last time we spoke, before December break, I spoke briefly about the changes we are seeing in the world – in UK, US – where the march of social progress is being questioned. It would be easy to laugh or cry about some of the global news we see, and to avert our gaze. But make no mistake – as globally mobile people embedded in the global economy, this will likely affect you and your families and friends. And we all have a moral role in resisting the spread of some of the dangerous ideas we see. I want to mention just one brief example. It’s from the US, but it could be from anywhere. And what it shows is that anyone – here athletes, musicians, business folk – can be a positive force for change.
Here’s the story. About a year ago, Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly passed a law that overturned anti-discrimination measures against transgender people. There was much written about this, but what’s interesting is that actions that have taken place – among a huge informal coalition of those who care:
- The National Collegiate Athletic Association, and the National Basketball Association NBA have pulled tournaments from North Carolina.
- Numerous musicians – Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Blue Man Group and others – have canceled tours
- Major companies including PayPal and Deutsche Bank have postponed or canceled job expansions.
- American Airlines, Apple, Dow Chemical, Red Hat and Biogen, have all issued statements critical of the new law.
The economic impact of all these protests is estimated at close to 4 billion USD. And guess what – now the discriminatory legislation is being reconsidered. So the message here is that you do not have to take to the streets, riot or burn cars. As a citizen you have great power to effect change – to create pressure for doing the right thing through straightforward, unglamorous but powerful actions.
This was a long way from here; so you might ask what has this got to do with me? Everything, I hope. I believe that education is helping prepare us to stand shoulder to shoulder with the millions, billions of people of integrity who do not need to be Gandhi, or Martin Luther King but who can and use whatever influence we have, in whatever role we have in the future, to make the world a better place. The people in the organisations I mentioned quietly used their influence to stand up and say ‘No, this is not OK’. They used their influence to make a difference. We can – we must – do the same.
So we can joke about the cliche nature of the our UWCSEA learner profile – but in this case I have just have mentioned – it’s because we have Principled citizens, who are Committed to Care for others, who are thinking Critically to find Creative ways to protest, that change happens. And being able to Collaborate and Communicate to get things done, and to be Resilient enough to stick with it when the going is tough… these are the things we hope you are learning here. They are vitally important, and these are why, I believe, you are prepared to make go on to a bright future.
And leaving with these skills and qualities, of course, takes us to…. our Leavers.
I want to acknowledge what we teachers know, what your parents know, what future employers will know, and what research tells us: that your futures are not determined by your exam results; that your effort, drive, passion, intelligence and creativity are not summarised by a single number out of 45. Your successes are measured in the quality of your thinking, the integrity of your actions, the strengths of your friendships, and your willingness to stand up for things that matter.
What have you achieved? Well, the short answer is that it is far, far more than I can recount here, or that I even know about. Your individual moments may have been in classrooms, on stage, on the pitch, in the pool, with a Service partner, by yourself or with a team, with old friends or making new ones, in your mother tongue or in a second language.
And in truth, I have been talking here to our leavers, but really, the message is for us all – that we all have our moments; and we should all take the time to recognise them.
I have two closing pieces of advice for you.
Firstly, Leave well. Be remembered for your ingenuity, your sense of fun, your sense of inclusion. For your generosity of spirit and the kindness of your consideration. As you leave, laugh with people, not at people. Be as considerate to others as previous years were to you. Do things that enhance, not diminish, the reputation you have worked so hard over the years to establish. You are creating and defining memories here, so thank the people – so many – who need thanking; make amends with anyone you need to. Leave well.
Secondly, and finally: Be kind to yourself over the next few days and be proud of what you have achieved. Take the time to enjoy your final High School experience and to have the same confidence in yourselves as we have in you. You only get one final week of High School in your entire life – take the time to enjoy it and to be kind to yourselves and to each other.
In closing; what I hope you have achieved, though I cannot know for sure, is that you have met, and in many cases exceeded your ambitions and aspirations; and come to see that plus est en vous applied, and still applies to you. Keep in touch.
