The Head Prefect Bids Farewell

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, it is with great joy and pride that I stand up here in front of you all on this beautiful day to deliver my closing speech. In fact, I feel very lucky; two hours from now, many of you may be growing tired of the many presentations and speeches that will follow. I have the opportunity to speak when you are all still fresh.  Still, time is of the essence; I only have so long before Mr. Patel glares at me to get away from this mic and off the stage.  As my three years at Brentwood have gradually turned into the hours that remain, I find myself reflecting on all that has happened. So many good times, stressful times, joyous times, and altogether weird times characterize my experience here. I remember driving through Brentwood’s gates in September, 2012. Entering a world of opportunity through which I would have the chance to explore my interests. When I came to Brentwood I had absolutely no idea who I was; a rower with good grades - that about the extent of my identity. In hindsight I would say I came to Brentwood with a need for some self-exploration, which is exactly what I’ve done. Any of my friends or family will tell you I go through phases. Cowboy phase, philosopher phase, bodybuilder phase, rower phase – all of these are examples of identities I have had for myself since Grade 10.  One phase in particular took a lot out of me back in Grade 10. During the mornings, when I wasn't on the water training, I studied vigorously for my SATs. Every morning at 4:00am, my Tony Robbins alarm clock woke me up.  I went downstairs to start the kettle, and for the next three hours, I listened to motivational speeches while I delved into my textbook. Now, I know what you’re all thinking: what 16 year old in his right mind would put himself through this. Looking back, I don't really know why, I’m always been a little crazy, but I do remember my rationale. You see, for a year I was adamant on going to Harvard; it was the pillar of my future. Admittedly, this vision existed to satiate my ravenous ego, but it was well intended. Initially, I struggled through those long mornings, fighting the urge to sleep; but eventually I got to a point where it was part of my daily routine. I became a machine. All that mattered to me was pumping out hours studying; I saw it as making progress towards my goal.  Looking back, I’d say my social life suffered. In fact, I began to like books more than people, but I became a very disciplined person as a result. In the end, I broke this routine for a variety of reasons and will not be attending Harvard this September; sorry Mom.  The lesson I want to emphasize from this story is the importance of our journey as opposed to the final destination. While the cry of my 4:00am kettle certainly disturbed the people I lived with, it taught me two very important lessons:  1. Passion is great for gaining momentum, but be careful not to let it blind you. 2. Sleep deprivation is never sustainable. Since Grade 10 I have grown into a much more well-rounded person, and in the process I’ve learned a lot about myself. Today, I look back at my former self with an admiration of my overwhelming passion. Was it healthy? Probably not, but it all taught me a lot about myself and gave me confidence in my abilities.   For me, Brentwood has provided an environment for trial and error learning, and for me this has been an amazing opportunity. As I mentioned earlier, I have gone through many phases, some of which I'm still immersed in. These periods of self-exploration have taught me valuable lessons. Sometimes the phase has not been right for me while at other times I've been able develop a new part of myself in the process.   In the past three years, I've learned that life is always changing, very much like Brentwood. In a few hours, the school will turn over a new chapter in its history. Mr. Tate and Mr. Garvey have both been mentors and inspiring members of the Brentwood community for decades, and at the end of today, they will be leaving the busyness of Brentwood for retirement – well deserved if you ask me. Furthermore, there will be changes in the flow of the student body. Grade 9s advance to Grade 10, and Grade 10s will make their way into the senior school. At the end of today, we the Grade 12s, will be Old Brentonians, and the Grade 11s will have to fill our shoes.  Dear Grade 11s, I empathize with what you’re feeling in your belly right now—the butterflies are not fun. At the end of these ceremonies, we will have a new Student Executive Council, and I know the school will be in good hands. However, as a cautionary note: guys, please don’t burn down the school; I have faith in you. This is the beauty of Brentwood though, the constant change of people coming and going granting us new experiences and teaching us about ourselves for better and for worse. I have learned many things since my adventure began in Grade 10 and don’t regret anything that has happened (except for a couple of misadventures on the Millennium Trail). My point is that as the aspects that define our Brentwood experience progress or change entirely, one thing stands true: Brentwood is a place of love. For me, it has not always been smooth sailing. There have been bumps and bruises along the way that have helped shape me into who I am today. Many of you will understand when I say, things have gotten pretty weird sometimes, but regardless of what happens, the Brentwood family has always been there for me.    T.S Eliot once said that it’s the journey, not the arrival that matters, and this quote encompasses the essence of the Brentwood experience. I feel that I can speak on behalf on the Grads when I say that our Brentwood experience has helped shaped us into the people you see here today, for better or for worse--- but mostly for better.  Today, we, the students, owe a wholehearted thanks to the faculty and staff who have helped get us through the year. To the administration, nurses, food services, maintenance, cleaning, and laundry staff – every gear that makes Brentwood tick –we give our thanks. To our coaches, teachers, and instructors, thank you for guiding us and instilling a passion for learning in our hearts. To our houseparents and mentors who have helped guide us through the turbulent seas since we arrived, we thank you wholeheartedly. We thank you, parents, grandparents, family members, and donors, for providing us with the incredible opportunity to experience Brentwood, and for the love and support, you have given us along our journey. Finally, I would like to thank my fellow students for being the essence of the Brentwood experience. For each face I look out onto today, I have a memory from some point over the past three years. It makes me truly thankful to have known you all and my closing advice today is to cherish the bond you all have with each other, it is the essence of Brentwood. I would like to finish a quote from Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover” Thank you, Tyler Pickford, Head Prefect 2014-2015