Good morning
graduates,
I bet we
look like we’ve stepped out of a Harry Potter novel.
 |
| My VP, John Boraas, and I in my Flinders finery |
To quote that
popular story, headmaster, Dumbledore said:
“It is our
choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
Think about
it.
When you
reflect on your journey here, the choices you made were crucial, right?
Some of
those choices were good ones – like taking a break before starting school or getting
extra help from the writing centre.
Some choices
may have not been so wise? Remember? Parents I’m sure you remember?
Your
instructors, your family and friends supported you to make good choices and are
here today continuing that support.
Your supporters
deserve applause!
And despite
your talent, smarts and experience, which you have in abundance, it was being
able to make choices that led you on your journey.
You had a choice.
As you go
out in the world with the knowledge and skills you gained in your program in
the school of HHS I want you to remember.
Not everyone
has a choice.
I am here on
this stage today because I had choices.
My mother had
musical talent and good grades. But as a
young woman in the 1950s she had limited access to college, contraception, or career
choices.
As we have
learned through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, generations of First
Nations children and their parents had no choice in being sent to residential
school.
And the
working poor in our city, in some cases single parents with young children,
have limited choices for nutritious food at over-subscribed food banks.
Smoking,
drug use and homelessness are not a choice.
As you leave
today and head out to support and serve people in the community help them to
have choices and… do what you can to make the healthy choice the easy
choice.
You will
change the world.
Congratulations
and best wishes!
