Delivered by Mrs Heather Goedeke
I’m going to start with ‘thank you’s’ rather than ending with them; this might not be protocol but sometimes they feel like an automated last thought as opposed to a priority! And these are a priority!
To the Herschel Council whose role is the governance of the school, thank you for giving your time and expertise so generously to Herschel. This is hugely appreciated and critical to the running of the school – thank you! We are fortunate to have a dedicated Council with diverse skill sets and talents and with a massive heart for Herschel. Thank you for investing your time, interest, energy, experience and wisdom into the education of young women.
To the Herschel staff – every person employed by the Herschel Association – academic (our teachers), administrative, grounds and maintenance, specialists in the sports and music departments; thank you for the hard yards that you put into what you do. At the special thank you function that the matrics gave in the theatre, I hope that you felt their genuine warmth and appreciation for every one of you.
Thank you for the lessons that are taught within and outside of class – whether it be in a casual conversation on a corridor, en route to a sports match, backstage, in the library or atrium, or in any one of the classrooms – thank you for living the Herschel tag line daily: Learning to make a difference. To all catering, cleaning and security staff – in HR language you might be service providers, but in our eyes and hearts, you are part of this Herschel community. Thank you for the valued relational richness that you bring each day.
My special thanks to the Manco team of which I am a part – Andrew Bearne, Andrew Scott and Renee Swartz: thank you for teamwork, tough conversations, rigorous debate shared responsibilities and your commitment to your specific roles. BUT thank you especially for your love of this school; for friendship and leadership and for the trust that is so important in teamwork.
Heather Vaughan, you are so much more than a PA – you are an incredible person, first and foremost – and you are the consummate professional. I count myself lucky every single day. Thank you for literally keeping me on track.
And to the pupils of Herschel, girls, thank you for your passion, energy, talents, friendships, love of fun, hard work and commitment, sense of justice, purpose and how you strive for your goals. This is a special school with you at the very heart of it.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank those who have so generously sponsored awards and prizes for this ceremony, as well as those who have made it possible for pupils to attend Herschel through the role that they have played as benefactors. This is an incredible act of kindness, and it is a gift that provides opportunity and growth. Thank you.
Grade 12s, we are here today because of you, and I would like to share a message that I have titled HORIZONS AND BOUNDARIES.
During the holiday I watched a documentary called The Alpinist about the Canadian mountain climber, Mark-André Leclerc. Apart from his prodigious talent and fearlessness, he valued his solitude. When asked by a film company if they could film a solo ascent he had planned in Alaska, he replied that it wouldn’t then be a solo ascent, would it? He felt that this would take away from his purpose: climbing alone – without being watched. He was putting in place a boundary to protect the horizons he searched beyond; in pursuit of freedom and joy.
Leclerc did finally agree to the crew taking some footage to document the route he had taken and to capture his climbing technique switching between rock and ice, but very few people knew about him because he did not document his achievements on social media, nor did he seek fame. The many solo ascents he completed were done for the sheer joy of it; the addictive pursuit of freedom. He climbed because he felt free on the mountain rockfaces. Unbound/unfettered. He loved the dare of getting the weather windows right – of taking the gap to see if he could make it up and down in between storms. He thrived in open spaces where the boundaries melted away; he saw beyond the horizon and what he sought lay beyond the horizon.
As I watched The Alpinist I thought about the fact that Leclerc’s imagination, combined with his passion for exploring new horizons and pushing himself towards the edge, brought him a very powerful sense of freedom; creating a space in which he could be authentic.
It is a word we hear a lot and yet I think it is extraordinarily challenging to be authentic in the world in which we live today.
Several famous alpinists never knew Leclerc, until the stories told in small mountain towns gained traction and he became known. This documentary inspired the thought in me that often the horizons we see present as physical boundaries even though we know that they are not; we know that there is always something that lies beyond the seemingly physical ‘end’ or limit. And it is this that is worth pursuing, even if it seems really hard; perhaps even impossible. Remember that reaching the summit is not the pinnacle. It’s looking out from there that counts!
The known world seems smaller now that it is connected via the World Wide Web; and in this era of information and instant access, it is very easy to stop scanning the horizon, to look down and into – not ‘out’, ‘upwards’ and ‘beyond’. What will we lose if we stop scanning the horizon and looking beyond what we already have and know?
To all of you – the pupils of Herschel; today, while there are still challenges concerning gender equity and attitudes towards women in leadership, and while there are diverse opinions rooted in religion, culture, ethnicity, race and generation, you can scan the horizon; not only that; today you can sail it and be part of it too! Previous boundaries are now horizons and women are representing; they will be major contributors to future frontiers in science, technology, business and the humanities. I have no doubt that seated here today are young women who will be part of exciting discoveries and futuristic organisations; entrepreneurs who will have major social and environmental impact; leaders who will have the creativity, skill and vision to solve problems, collaborate towards the greater good and who will make a difference.
The horizon also represents that fine line between what is known and unknown. When you look at the horizon, the line of vision is drawn to where the sea meets the sky, or the mountains touch the clouds. Remember that you are boundaried in a sense in the same way. You exist within a space BUT you are so much more than that. You have imagination and this allows you to ‘see’ or imagine what lies beyond the physical boundary.
You’ve heard people talking about how important it is to broaden your horizons. Of course, you cannot do this if you do not start with yourself and understanding your boundaries. Self-awareness is critical for self-growth because it positions you to enter conversations and spaces in a way that is empowering and at the same time, considerate, being conscious of who else is in the space with you. Healthy self-awareness is your armour – your protection. It also protects others. In our complex South African society, self-awareness goes a long way towards fostering understanding, building connection and establishing trust, friendship and respect.
On a simple level, try not to be bound by things like your social media profile or your family and friends’ expectations of you. These might be well-intentioned but also potentially limiting. You are so much more than what you know of yourself right now.
Matrics, your reading of Hamlet this year might have led to some discussion on Polonius’s line to his son, Laertes: “To thine own self be true.” Never mind the irony implicit in Polonius saying this, it is in and of itself very good advice and more difficult to achieve than it seems, especially perhaps in today’s world where there are so many distractions, including the noise of social media and the very public arena that you’re in – inside your devices. Make sure that you are the same person in real life that you are online. You do not need to recreate yourself; you need to BE yourself.
Grade 11s, your novel for matric English study is Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. In reading this novel you will, I hope, invoke your imaginations to visualise the world that she creates in the novel. You will likely identify the boundaries – there are many and they are particularly reprehensible and restrictive, but in your reading of this novel, I would challenge you to look for the horizons by considering Atwood’s purpose in this work and listening for her voice. In Atwood’s words: The answers you get from literature depend on the questions you pose. So too for life. And so, an important skill is learning how to ask good questions, big questions, and hard questions … push the boundaries of what makes you feel comfortable because only then will you truly grow.
Boundaries help you to navigate relationships and empower you to know where to draw the lines so to speak. We often speak of needing to put boundaries in place and if this is for good reason, then it will support your growth. In this sense, boundaries serve a very constructive purpose. Boundaries become problematic when they are drawn by others for you; when they become restrictive or containing, or, when you only feel safe within them.
If you can’t put yourself in a situation where you are uncomfortable, then you will never grow. You will never change. You’ll never learn. Growth is uncomfortable; you have to embrace the discomfort if you want to expand. Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. (John F Kennedy)
Remember that every person you meet is entitled to an opinion and that you can be good friends with people whose opinions differ from yours. Cancel culture is something that has caused extensive damage here! Have a conversation with a person – hear them. This will not force you to change your mind – it might give you more insight into an issue, it might make you aware of something you didn’t know previously, it might inform you – don’t cancel a person because they have a different point of view. That is an inhibiting boundary. Discomfort can be a clearly defined boundary or it can provide a space for exploration – a new horizon. Either way, it is an important disruptor for growth.
Perhaps boundaries and horizons are the same thing – it’s how you choose to understand and perceive them that makes them one or the other.
Boundaries will keep you safe. They will help you to put in place measures that allow you to define relationships, but remember that boundaries can also stunt your growth and restrict you.
And, if you understand horizons, you will not restrict or limit yourself; you will dare, dream, imagine and you will be free to love yourself beyond boundaries into what is possible.
Both boundaries and horizons are necessary to support authenticity – to allow you to be a growing version of YOU. A work of art – not a photograph!
In the flower arrangement behind the staff, there is a single protea – it is there as a visual reminder that you get to make this decision – to journey towards your own truth; to place your boundaries and to scan the horizons that you see; both actions that will nurture growth. To stand out for you!
To all prize-winners – congratulations and well done! Your efforts and commitment, talents and abilities have seen you improve, and achieve success and excellence. Today we are here to honour your accomplishments. Many of you have achieved personal bests and can be exceptionally proud of this even though you might not be the recipient of an award. Do not let this be a boundary – look beyond this towards where you are headed. Be proud of your peers, you’ve been a part of their journey too.
Suzy, Lilitha and Caroline, you have shown authenticity in your leadership this year – you’ve made it cool to be who you are – and I believe that this is a quality that is reflected in the 2023 pupil leadership team. I want to thank you for the role that you have played in authenticating leadership. In a world where it is so easy to be a people-pleaser, to blend in – you have been stand-outs and it has been a privilege working alongside you. Thank you to you and your leadership team! The protea in the arrangement on the plinth represents your leadership.
We would not want it any other way.
You girls are the heartbeat of this school. Our passion and purpose is your growth; and education in the holistic sense of the word; and for this both boundaries and horizons are important, speaking of which, matrics:
You’re off to great places! Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting. So get on your way!
Ad Dei Gloriam!