Page 92 - 1992

First I would like to thank my fellow graduates, who elected me to be valedictorian. It is indeed an honour! Thank you very much.
Commencement is typically a time to welcome a new life rather than to reflect on old times. But there must be some merit to recognizing the past...or my father would be out of a job. So before I present to you some inspiring words, I would like to stroll, with you, down memory lane through the halls of C.C.I. Now the doors of C.C.I. opened for me, like many others in grade nine, and as we walked through there were many tall people! Of course we have grown from then, and have gained many memories. As I look over the graduating class, I can't help but think back to grade nine, and remember what we all looked like, as we were initiated as "geeks and nerds". How much better we look tonight!
Stopping along at several spots down the halls of C.C.I. you can find many memories to ponder. At the office, listening to the tales of Doctor Luiggi or guessing the number of hats in Mr. Liotta's collection. Let's move on to the cafeteria where many of us spend every lunch hour for five years eating with the same bunch of people and building strong friendships. We move on to the library where we not only studied but we learned to socialize and master the art of procrastination. And then into the new gym and a special event where one United Appeal Campaign, Mr. Purdy got the extreme honour of kissing a pig. Yet of course, this room itself (old gym) was the scene of many memories including Halloween dances, sports events, assemblies, concerts and musicals full of talent and effort. I am sure everyone has their own special classes, field trips and special events that they will always remember.
More than anything memories at C.C.I. include the people that make it great! Your friends, the custodians, the secretaries, especially the teachers to whom we owe a great deal of our success, have all made their impact. We really have to thank them! They are what made C.C.I. great, giving their extra to get us here today. In addition, we can't overlook our parents. Without their caring support, encouragement and prodding we would not be here tonight. Fellow graduates I would like you to stand with me to applaud in appreciation our parents and the teachers who have guided us to this success.
I have a funny feeling that as you go through life, people will remind you of teachers you met at C.C.I. I have a certain professor at university that reminded me of C.C.I. teachers becallse of his unique teaching style. lie just all of a sudden, in the middle of the class, screamed "CIlICKENS ARE DUMfl!!" (No offense Trevor or Mr. Kolkea). lie proceeded to tell us that chickens accomplish their goals by simple instinct. If they have food they want to eat, they will simply walk toward it, and start to nibble. If you place a barrier between the chicken and its food it will simply walk towards its food, "bonk" its head on the barrier and return to its starting point prepared to starve to death. Yet humans, on the other hand, when they encounter those barriers, will learn to go around the wall that is presented. I think this applies to life. You have to follow your instincts, then overcome the odds and break down the barriers. You can't be a chicken in life. You have to learn to persevere. At C.C.I. they instilled a fundamental motto, "Dare to be Wise". Our challenge, now that we leave the halls of C.C.I., is not to be a chicken. Not only must we dare to be wise, we must dare to succeed. Thank you.
C . C I . V ALEDICTORY ADDRESS BY ANDREW SNEYD
"THE CLASS OF ' 9 1 "