As May unfolds, so does the anticipation of one of life's significant junctures for many – graduation. For me, it's reminiscent of the excitement and nervousness I felt over four decades ago at my own high school graduation. But now, as I prepare for my 20th graduation day at TCS, I'm struck by how quickly time has passed, yet how deeply these moments imprint themselves in our memories.
Graduation is more than a ceremonial rite; it’s a marker of transition, signaling the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. I believe that it ranks among life’s top 10 milestones, alongside birth of a child, marriage, a first job and obtaining a driver’s license. As June draws nearer, it carries with it the promise of new beginnings and the weight of farewells.
At TCS, our graduation ceremonies – the Senior School’s Speech Day and the Junior School’s Closing Ceremony – blend cherished traditions with subtle modifications, ensuring each graduate is honoured and celebrated. It is an especially poignant time for our Grade 12 graduates, as Speech Day marks the transition to life after TCS. From the solemnity of the Leaving Class Service in the chapel, to the joy of receiving diplomas, the day is a tapestry woven with threads of achievement, camaraderie and nostalgia.
As we turn our gaze to the Grade 12 Leaving Class of 2024, it's fascinating to ponder the mosaic of their journey:
- There are 123 members of the Class of 2024 (74 boarders; 50 day students)
- There are 24 countries and two Canadian provinces represented
- There are 11 who have been at TCS since Grade 5 (making them members of the Bear Cub Society)
- Students will have completed approximately 3,000 hours of high school class time when they graduate (that works out to about 125 full days)
- They have spent 300 hours in the Memorial Chapel
- Graduates would have run around the perimeter of our 100-acre campus many times as a result of our Terry Fox Run and Oxford Cup annual events
- They will soon be joining a long list of TCS alumni – well over 10,000, in fact
As I reflect on my own journey, from nervous graduate to seasoned educator, I’m reminded that while graduations mark endings, they also celebrate new beginnings.
