Page 16 - 1971

V ALEDICTORY ADDRESS
Fmt, I would like to thank all those who are res- ponsible for organizing this night for us, 1.he gradu- ates.
1 am more than honoured 1.0 speak to you on behalf of the 1969-70 graduating class and would like to thank them for giving me 1.he opportunity.
1 wish to express the feelings which we, the grad- uates, have had during the last few ye:IJ's. And voice a farewell to an old friend, Collingwood Collegiate Institute.
We lool< forward with anticipation to what the future holds for us anc.l back with pride at C.C .l.
It's within tJ1ese walls we developed our ambition, att·Hudes and beliefs . Although we may change slightly in the future, the foundation has been es- tablished at C. C.l.
C. C. I. has almost become a second home. Most of us stayed late after classes to participate in football, basketball, soccer and other sporting clubs. And also for a large number of other activities which were all so important
to us! Most of us also returned for dances, concerts and other social functions. Some enjoyed it so much that they stayed extra years just to enjoy them longer!
All and all, we can say thus far that these have been "the best years of our lives."
During these years we owe a great deal of thanlls to our teachers Cor giving so generously of !.heir patience, lmowledge, wisdom and most of all, auth- ority. 1l1eir influence both in and out of the classroom will certainly be remembered .
Further thanks must be extended to our parents for putting up with us for all these years and giving their encouragement, interest and understanding. I am sure iliat we must have been a dreadful group to tolerate.
Tonight, we take away a diploma, a mere piece of paper, but the last page of a chapter of our lives. What it rep resents is ilie strength of character, the self-discipline and the will to succeed which we gained at C. C. I.
High scl1ool is the preparation for the future. What lies ahead only time will tell. We each go our own way in searcll of business or higher learning.
After all the good limes and hardships we have gone through together it hardly seems possible that we are gathered, as a group , for the last time.
ll seems lil{e just yesterday that there were grade nine stlldents wandering tll.roug]1 tl1c halls hoping that the person in front of us lu1ew where he was going .
Now, our old friend, C.C.I., has completed preparing us for the flll-ure. Only a friend would give so much, to so many, for so little.
Tonight we say good-bye to a dear friend and to a way of life.
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