I am deeply honoured to celebrate the First Day of School today with you.
Although, on the one hand, this day marks the end of summer, which I hope all of you have enjoyed, and you are now probably a little bit sad that the summer did not last longer, on the other hand, for those of you returning to the school after the previous year, this is an exciting moment when you, ready to continue, grow and put your inquisitive mind to learning this year’s subjects, reunite with your classmates, schoolmates and teachers.
I am deeply grateful to the teachers of your school for keeping their heads up un eyes fixed on the goal. You must love your job very much. And, I believe, you all do. You also have wonderful parents and grandparents, who help you with your homework. My help does not go much further that the 5th or 6th-year maths curriculum. Thank you for supporting your kids in other ways, too.
I know you, the pupil of this school, rely on your will and determination to achieve what you have set out to achieve. Indeed, when you are determined, committed and focused, all your desires will come true. My school day recollections are of me having to really ‘gauge’ my self-discipline. I hope this will not be an issue for you. I believe you will do a lot better than I did at disciplining yourself, and you, especially the 12th-year senior pupils, will leave school with excellent marks to keep pursuing your plans and goals.
Let my conclude by wishing all of you, especially the 12th and 1st-year pupils for whom this is the first day at school, and I have to admit I still remember the suspense and anxiety I felt entering the school on my first day – it is all I remember of that day, the stress, and I assume this is also how you, young people, will remember this day, good luck with your studies and work! May everything you do run smoothly and ‘without a hitch’. I wish teachers to remain strong, patient, hopeful and caring.
