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Living with Humanity

����AV's 2023 Year 12 Graduation and Prize Giving Assembly was graced by a heartfelt speech from Head Prefect, Jemima. Filled with gratitude, humanity, depth, and reminders about the importance of making an impact on others, it was a profound message on a memorable day.

I've been lost for words with this speech.

I wanted to be successful in saying it, but it's been really hard to write. It has been hard to substantiate how we all feel about leaving a place that has been our home for so many years.

It's hard to do our time here justice.

It's also hard to reflect on life moving forward when I've got no clue how to do it. So, I've put my heart on the page. I've tried to be candid and honest … and that's the thing … I've realised that in this, and in life, giving your heart is enough. In fact, it’s everything.

I was talking to my parents last week about life at 50. Sorry mum, I know you're 21. What I took from it, is that once you finish high school, time flies and suddenly you're middle-aged. What I took from it, is that it's easier to spend a lot of time trying to achieve success, without ever really knowing what that is. We'll go out into the world now, the Class of 2023, and we'll try to succeed, build esteemed careers, fulfil ourselves, feel accomplished, and live good, full lives.

But what is success? What is a good life? What happens when you feel like time's moving too fast and you have no idea how to make your life worthwhile? What happens when life needs meaning more than objective achievement?

As we face adulthood, realities begin to set in about the challenges of life and how strange, dangerous, and fleeting it can be. Some right now are facing heartbreaking adversity and the future daunts us. I think in our search for achievement, purpose, and fulfilment, we must remind ourselves that to succeed and to have an impact is not complicated. To succeed in life means to be there for others, to succeed in life means to give endless love and kindness, to succeed in life means to be grateful for every moment that you get and to have a heart that explodes light across dark skies, making the stars.

We must always remember that being alive is an incredible privilege, knowing how lucky we are to have time on this earth, knowing how amazing it is that we have hearts capable of love, and knowing that what matters above all is each other.

We are on this journey together. We will succeed as long as we're kind, as long as we love, care, give of ourselves, serve the world, look out for friends and family and grasp opportunities.

And isn't that a beautiful liberating way to live? I remember when Miss Gruen approached me in the Independent Theatre one evening last year, during a particularly busy time, and asked how I was doing. I remember when Mr Whitehouse drove my Year 7 debating team to our grand final at Abbotsleigh in the School minibus because we asked him to on a whim, and he bought us chocolate and lollies, and it was quite possibly the best day of our young lives.

Georgie remembers when Jemima loaned her pink Juicy Couture tracksuit on Year 8 Camp after she capsized in her kayak and all her things got soaked.

I remember meeting Lucy H at the scholarship exam the year before we started and I went home and told my mum that I'd met this really nice girl from Dubbo and I wanted to be her friend.

I remember Ruby buying me lunch last year when she noticed I hadn't had time to get it myself. I remember Mr Tate checking in with me a couple of weeks ago to ask how my dog was doing after he'd swallowed a fishhook.

I remember Immy and Esha approaching me on my first day of School. I was so nervous because I knew no one and Immy had cat ears on and I had the same pair at home, and it made me feel so safe and happy.

We all have so many memories like this that we will keep forever. What my parents also said in our conversation is that life is amazing because you're doing it with others. And so, thank you to the people who have been there with us so far.

Thank you to our staff. The word “teacher” means so much more than one would assume. You are guides, comedians, academics, and friends. Thank you for the incredible amount of emotional energy you've invested in us. We will all remember you for the rest of our lives.

Thank you to our families and parents for your generosity, compassion and unconditional love.

Thank you to ����AV – every single member of this community. You have given us so much.

This School is undeniably special. This School has taught us lessons of the world way beyond the curriculum. This School has been a safe haven and a family. The past few days, the pain we've felt in leaving here, the gratitude we feel for this School, the laughter that echoes in these walls, the tears we've shed, this love that we feel between us – they attest to the fact that what makes things meaningful, and what makes things matter, is each other.

So, it does not matter how many awards you win. It does not matter what you look like. While we must celebrate these parts of ourselves, what matters is doing things that make your soul and others shine brighter. Do good, live passionately, fall in love, experience heartbreak, discover the vastness of the world, enjoy life for the giving thing that it is, And serve in true Ut Prosim style.

I realised recently that motto means more than I ever thought. It means to serve with kindness. It means to serve with love. It means to pursue a life where you can make something better. That is the meaning of life – that is success. To make the world better in any way you can; having someone remember you in 50 years because you gave them the time of day – that is success. I will remember all of you for the impact you've had on me. So, you've already succeeded. To my Class: it has been the most incredible journey, the most hilarious fun.

We, 146 girls, were put together by chance in 2018 and goodness, am I thankful for that. Thank you for growing up beside one another. Thank you for making one another who we are today. Thank you for giving one another endless compassion and care.

I don't want to make this about me, but I do feel a need to thank the School, to thank my year group, for the incredible kindness and love that you've given me. You have changed me and my life forever.

We only get one “growing up”, although arguably we never stop. We only get one childhood, one youth, and one teen hood … and ours is coming to a close. But I am endlessly glad that I spent mine here among you all. I know there have been times when many of us have felt lonely, alone and isolated, but I really hope, and I really believe that we've had each other.

While most of us generally live fortunate lives, there are many here who have been through incredible challenges, and I am so proud of you for working so hard despite it all.

This is such a special cohort. Every one of you is prized for your many talents, for your giving hearts, and for your clever minds. I realize that we must be so grateful that our hearts ache so much in leaving here, because how lucky are we to have something so painful to leave?

Life ahead is endlessly exciting. The world awaits. We're going to travel to the four corners of the world, from ANU to Newcastle. You're going to be marvellous, darlings! I am so proud of you all, and I feel so incredibly privileged to have known you and to have loved you.

So, from here, it begins.

Good luck, my brilliant, clever, talented, kind friends. If you're ever feeling lost out there, if you're ever alone, think of us. You are forever allies. Turn to people, turn to humanity. That is the essence of life. That is the reason we live.

I'd like to make a promise to you all that if you ever need a friend in life, if you need someone, I'll be there. Just call me. And I know that we will all do the same for one another. So, may the love we feel here be only a fraction of the love that we will give and receive for the rest of our lives.

Thank you.