Page 71 - 1993

Parents, teachers, friends and fellow graduates, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to tonight's celebration - the graduation of the 1991/92 senior classes of Collingwood Collegiate Institute.
I am very honored to be speaking tonight on behalf of the graduating class. There were many people well deserving of this honor, and I would like to thank the people who allowed me this opportunity.
Tonight, as well as the last few months, have been very spe- cial moments in our humanistic development. Just like our birth, taking our first steps and entering school for the first time, tonight's graduates from high school is a life passage; a major transition from the adolescent world to a world in which we must all prepare for our future.
So tonight we celebrate this transition here at our graduation by reflecting on our past and what brought us here tonight, and by coming together once again so that we may be able to de- part our past and take hold of our future.
But first, let's take some time to notice the people who helped us get here. Throughout our lives we have all struggled to set and accomplish certain goals. The struggle to meet these ends was sometimes undesirable and sometimes seemed to have no answers. That is when we had to look up to our parents and seek the help from a person who has already been in our shoes, from someone who may have already found the answer.
Bridge Builders
Through school our teachers tried to play that role and guide
us in a variety of ways. May we take the time to thank these people now who have raised us in their image, and guided us to success; they are bridge builders who try to make our travels through unmapped territory an easier and safer task.
Now it is time to thank ourselves, and give ourselves some
SPECIAL AWARDS, BURSARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
THE MALCOLM KIRK BUR- SARY: Jason Brearly, C.A.W. LO- CAL 1474 BURSARY: Kim Broadhurst COCA COLA PHYS- ED SCHOLARSHIP & THE DE- ANNA PREZIO SCHOLARSHIP: James Carson, L.O.F. GLASS SCHOLARSHIP: Robert Duda, GEORGIAN FRAME GALLERY SCHOLARSHIP: Jennifer Egan, GORDON HUDSON SCHOLAR- SHIP: Trevor Hanley, CANAD- IAN MIST DISTILLERS SENIOR ACADEMIC ENGLISH EXPOSI- TION AWARD: Susan Haynes, EARLE S. JOHNSTON AWARD & COLLINGWOOD POLICE AS- SOCIATION BURSARY: Michael Hughes, CANADIAN MIST DIS- TILLERS ENGLISH AWARD: Dana Leslie, COLLINGWOOD DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IM- PROVEMENT AREABURSARY & MCNUL TY PRINTING SCHO- LARSHIP: Allison Lumsden, ELECTRIC LEAGUE A WARD: Eli McCaffrey, BLUE MOUN- T AIN POTTERY SCHOLAR- SHIP: Anita Miles, HURONIA OFFICE SERVICES SCHOLAR- SHIP: Marie St. Amour, SIMCOE COUNTY SECONDARY
SCHOOL TEACHERS' BUR- SARY: Teresa Ward.
credit for being here tonight. We were once children in a very small world of our own in which we were protected from . Grow- ing older we have had to make friends, many of whom are with us tonight, and become exposed to society. It was us who took the knowledge and guidance of our elders and put it into use in school, in our friendships and in our lives.
We have able also had to face many changes throughout high school. Adjusting to growth spurts, voice changes and fashions changes were as much as a concern as going to class , taking notes and studying for tests. Fitting, in and making friends also seemed to be a dramatic school event . But the events that we will most likely remember about life at C.C.I. are those spent with our friends during and not during school.
With our friends we grew as individuals, set future goals and created our own identities. Without our friends, we would have little memories to reflect upon, and tonight would not be as it is now. So, now when reflecting on your past this evening or any other time, remember the moments you grew as individ- uals, and remembering your friends will be very easy indeed.
Separate Paths
But many of us are now embarking on separate paths. At this
stage in our lives, I believe it is fair to assume we are all young adults who have our own identities, own aspirations and own dreams. I would like now to borrow from David Levinson's the- ory of growth; he states that every developmental transition in- volves temination of an existing life structure and the initiation of a new one.
But at the same time he is terrified of becoming an adult, but knows he cannot remain a child. I know I have had these feel- ings. In this way, it seems we have to let go of our past here at C.C.I., and create a new life structure in which our dream for a successful future will be encompassed.
However, when I look around, I see the fields I played in when I was young; I see where I have lived the beginning of my life, and by looking back on it now, I feel very happy, and lucky that I was able to spend it here with everybody in this room tonight. As Lord Tennyson said, "I am a part of all that I have met." This statement holds the truth for everybody here tonight, and 1dedicated who I have become the people I grew up and were friends with , and town in which I grew up .
One other quote that relates to our situation now was spoken by Heraclitus ; he stated that, " Everything flows ; nothing re- mains .. . One cannot step twice into the same river." In this fashion my new life structure away from home brings me to see unfamiliar streets. For me, my life here is in the past. But now I see foundations on which to make more memories, meet new people, and begin to create my own life. The hard part though, and I hope you will agree, is finally letting go of it all.
But it is time to start chasing our dreams, and make them become reality . Life goes on. Our graduation is only one of many . It is sp~cial to us now, and it should be. But we must use our resources wisely in order to porfit our future of our own families and the future of our nation. Always remember the past and all of the memories associated with it, but do not stop growing and making new friends , new memories and new life styles .
Again, thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to spea~ tonight , and for listening to what I had to say . I enjoyed the moments spent at C.C.I., and all of the times spent with many of you here tonight. To my parents and teachers, thank you; and to all of the graduates I know and don't know, take hold of fhe future , and I hope you enjoy a very long prosperous life .
Lorne Campbell Valedictorian for Class of '92
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