MICHAEL GIRUM
Western Canada High
Our time at school seems to have gone by in a flash, so much so that our high school experience seems to have lasted no more than a few months. I am sure we all vividly remember our first day of high school like it was yesterday ... I recall listening to our new principal speak for the first time. I must admit, I don’t remember much of what he said that first day, but a few things did resonate with me
... Most importantly, I remember our principal’s passionate belief in Western Canada High School’s motto — Intelligentia, Vires and Virtus. Knowledge, Strength and Courage.
Our principal at the time was unequivocal in his belief that we would learn all three of those virtues during our time in high school. He was right; during our time at Western, we have obtained all three.
... I can assure all of you that this graduating class has no illusions about the world which is waiting for us. We know that the world we are inheriting is far from perfect and there is a wide breadth of issues waiting for us to solve ...
But we have already shown so many times that we are not the generation which will be defined by the times. We will be the generation which defines our times.
... There are no doubts about what we have achieved and will continue to achieve in the future. But when we leave Western in the next few weeks, it is easy to fall into the trap of simply pursuing a degree or job so we can obtain that lucrative six-figure salary. It is easy to forget those three words — Knowledge, Strength, Courage.
Instead of falling into that trap, every day ... we should ask ourselves the question, are we making a difference? Are we making the world a better place? ...
Over the next few years, we should allow ourselves to be inspired by the world and, in turn, allow the world to be inspired by us. It is our job to make the world better for ourselves and for future generations, just as previous generations did for us.
Our graduating class is ready to take on this challenge. We are ready to use all that we have learned from the past three years. We are ready to make a difference and we are ready to make all those who supported us along the way proud.