The annual Academic Excellence Assembly in Term 1 is always a fantastic occasion to formally celebrate the hard-earned results of last year’s Year 12 boys. It’s the one time when these boys return to the College free from the stresses of the exam season and refreshed after a good Summer’s break to take their place on stage and reflect on how far they have come, as well as to reflect on the road that lies ahead. For the boys in the crowd, still in their Black and White, they look on with wonder and admiration. The whole assembly is one that inspires hope and propels us to strive towards something better, harder and higher.

Traditionally, the dux of the Year 12 class who is seven years the senior of the current boys being celebrated is invited back to address the Year 7 students. This year’s speaker is Eric Shi (ON 2010) and for his speech he took a moment to reflect, rather ironically, on the lessons that you don’t learn through academic excellence.

Now on his way to starting his sixth year at University, Eric offered some wise words on the fickleness of failure and how sometimes, despite one’s greatest efforts to control all variables and work hard towards a desired result, things won’t go your way. Despite this however, Eric says that “to be able to extract the positives even from unfair and undeserved moments of adversity can strengthen our resolve and preparedness for the future.”

Eric also mentioned that another thing he has learnt during his time beyond the College gates was that while plans can be useful, it’s equally important to examine where those plans may lead you, and what goals lie at the end. Will achieving that goal and being successful bring you the experiences and teach you the life lessons you desire?

“Sometimes, taking time to reflect about our own motivations not only allows us to define success in a way that makes it easier for us to drive ourselves to achieve our goals, it allows us to view our past experiences through new lenses and to learn new lessons from them. Most importantly, it can also expose us to new challenges and new possibilities for success.”

“I am certain that many more successes lie in wait for all of you, even if the path that leads there may resist you at times and your final destination may surprise you.”

To read Eric’s full speech, please click here.