Page 9 - 1957

Valedictory address of Gregory Taylor presented at the Com- mencement exercises on September 7, 1956e
Mr. MacRae, members of the staff, members of the board, honoured guest, fellow students, ladies and gentlemen:
Through the span of our short lives few honours could ever be awarded which would excel that
of being chosen to express the feelings of one's fellow class- mates on such a mementous occasion as this gradL, L~on from nigh
schooL
I am both proud and honoured to be that person.
These feelings are indeed
of a varied nature. They consist of regret, anticipation and
most certainly happiness.
As we the class of 1955~56 sit here on the night of our graduation and reminisce, I find it almost impossible to capture the glamour and excitement of school that has been ours for
the pas~ five years and condense it into the space of a few short mtnutes. But I need only mention a day, an event or a subject and the minds of my friends will glow with a picture
of some fond memory.
Here tonight we recall these past few years that have brought to us many new friends, such exuberant enjoyment, such deep dejection and such gratifying results. We realize that
our labours which necessitated the foregoing of certain pleasures were not in vain.
We remember that September morning of 1951 when we made
our debut in the halls of the old C. D. C. I. How stimulating it felt to stand and listen to feet busily running about, to friendly conversations competing madly for attention and to
the heartwarming sound of people laughing out loud. Immediately we were filled with a warm pleasant feeling, the feeling of belonging. The only discouraging event of the day came on
first seeing the upper school students burdened with books
and looking so pensive and nnhappy. These people had reached the seemingly inaccessiblepinnacle of fifth form. We could
only wonder if we could do the same.
The very word school signifies so many things to those
of us who have grown to love and understand its meaning. To some it may mean the uninhibited joy they expressed in cheering