Class of 2023 Valedictorian

Good morning, respected principals, members of the faculty, fellow schoolmates, parents, and my fellow classmates in the class of 2023. Congratulations! We have made it this far on our journey.

Now that I have an excellent chance, I would first like to express my gratitude and appreciation for my teachers. I want to thank Ms. Ross for her meticulous teaching and effort in helping us improve academically; Mr. McKercher for lighthearted lessons, except when we had to do 4 essays and 5 lab reports in a single semester; Mr. Gauw for helping us master the enigmatic subject of physics like a piece of cake; Ms. Huang for imbuing enthusiasm into the boring formulas and numbers; Ms. Sun for teaching us the technique of independent learning and the charm of Hamlet; Ms. Idowu for enlightening us on world issues and broadening our global perspectives; and Mr. Tony for comprehensively providing extracurricular support. I would also like to acknowledge the dedication and encouragement of other teachers, including Ms. Zhong, Mr. Harper, Mr. Barks  and so many more wonderful persons that may or may not be present. At last, I would like to give a shout-out to my family, friends, and classmates, who have been integral in making me the person I am today, the Valedictorian.

Almost 11 years ago, I came to CIS, quite nervous of what may lie ahead. The Alberta education system was drastically different from the Chinese education I received before and anyone could have made fun of me in English without me noticing at all. But then it turned out that these apprehensions were completely unfounded, and I soon became part of the community of CIS as if I were always part of it.

Over the years, students came and left, but our memories stayed, and will stay. As we part away, our shared experience will continue to remind us that we were once the Class of 2023. At the end of the day, it is impossible for us to forget the times when Mr. McKercher called us punters, when we shouted “slay” when taking class photos,

and when we giggled at trending memes, while the teacher was confused by our in-jokes.

I have had the honor of witnessing our initially small class with only a few students and faculty members grow into a diverse and vibrant community. Moreover, it is because of my passionate, jovial, altruistic, unique and talented, classmates that the Class of 2023 can be as fun and lively as it is, with the only exception being the dead silence that follows Ms. Idowu’s question.

As a class and as a school, we have accomplished more than just plain amusement. We have become vocational volunteers, brave pioneers, unfettered innovators, and so much more. As a school, we had volunteered for tens of hours at the nursing home across the street and completed projects like Love in a Box, where students donated necessities and gifts to children in an orphanage. Seeking to manifest our academic ability, various students of the graduating class took the first ever SAT at CIS, despite the additional stress. With the planning of a brilliant student in the class and the help of other members of the student council, we enjoyed the school’s first talent show – CIS Got Talent. Of course, the unseen achievements and successes of individual students in this class are also worth celebrating, ranging from passing a hard exam to getting an outstanding university offer. With our active involvement in the community and our efforts to extend excellence both inside and outside the classroom, I am proud to say that we are leaving a lasting legacy.

With that being said, there are things that we will and will not miss. To my classmates, staying up until 3 in the morning to make a deadline or review for an exam has to sound familiar. If not, what about the tedious hours spent after school to finish a project? Or having to go to tutorials on a daily basis? Although these are moments we for sure won’t miss, we still have to admit that they are essential in the pursuit of our goals, whether it’s achieving a high GPA to get more allowance or getting into your dream university.

On that note, I would like to once again appreciate the hard work and successes of my fellow classmates. We, the class of 2023, are approaching an end in our chapter after an admirable journey.

To the rest of Secondary students, my piece of advice is to not leave any regret, so set a goal and work towards it with dedication, despite the obstacles on the path. Stay active, curious, and eager.

Lastly, show yourself, and cliche as it sounds, endeavor to make the community a better place.

To the Class of 2023, all that I want to say in a simple message. Congratulations on graduation!