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Dulwich College graduates with class and style
By Chelsea White |
June 1, 2009, Monday
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AS the ballroom doors opened and the graduating class walked in, the rich sound of bagpipes floated through, heralding the start of a historic evening.
To begin the ceremony, Graham Able, the master of Dulwich College London, gave a short speech. It is curious how a confluence of events conspires to create history. Was it a complete coincidence that the year of Able's retirement from a lifetime of service to education should fall in the same year as Dulwich College Shanghai's first graduation?
In an aside, Able said: "I'm feeling more emotional today than at any previous graduation." He was not the only one.
I do not think there was a dry eye in the house when he quoted Bob Dylan, "May you build a ladder to the stars, and climb on every rung, and may you stay forever young."
As Able left the podium and Dulwich College Shanghai Headmaster Paul Friend took his place, was there a passing of the baton to carry the school forward into the future? Friend captured the moment with the words, "You only have one life; explore, dream, discover and make your mark on the world."
Not withstanding her protestations to the contrary, Michelle Brinn, IB coordinator, was visibly on the verge of tears as she then took the stage and recited her celebratory poem, "The Cardinal Sins of Secondary School." The humor in her poem was the perfect counterbalance for the formality of each student coming forward to collect their Dulwich College graduation certificates. In a last round of applause the graduates threw their caps in the air, signalling the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.
The end of the ceremony lifted the mood of formality and a feeling of fun became prevalent. As the buffet was opened and everyone left their seats to line up, it seemed there was not a frown in sight. Dresses were admired, glasses clinked and old stories retold. "We're not even done with the evening and I just know this will be a night to remember," one of the graduates commented.
Dinner was then followed by dancing. Students, teachers and parents all took to the dance floor, rocking to the music of artists ranging from Michael Jackson to Lil Wayne. A real testament to the fact that this was more than a formal event organized by the school, most of the graduates and year 12s were still on the dance floor well past the official end of the event. The Year 12 Organizing Committee should be proud that they had indeed delivered a gift to the year 13s - a grand finale to mark their leaving.
This evening really summarized what it meant to be a part of Dulwich College. As we all said goodbye to those who had led the senior school, we could see that this is how tradition is born. In keeping with Friend's words, with this night alone, we've made our mark, albeit a small one, on the world.
Chelsea White is year 12 student at Dulwich College, Shanghai
To begin the ceremony, Graham Able, the master of Dulwich College London, gave a short speech. It is curious how a confluence of events conspires to create history. Was it a complete coincidence that the year of Able's retirement from a lifetime of service to education should fall in the same year as Dulwich College Shanghai's first graduation?
In an aside, Able said: "I'm feeling more emotional today than at any previous graduation." He was not the only one.
I do not think there was a dry eye in the house when he quoted Bob Dylan, "May you build a ladder to the stars, and climb on every rung, and may you stay forever young."
As Able left the podium and Dulwich College Shanghai Headmaster Paul Friend took his place, was there a passing of the baton to carry the school forward into the future? Friend captured the moment with the words, "You only have one life; explore, dream, discover and make your mark on the world."
Not withstanding her protestations to the contrary, Michelle Brinn, IB coordinator, was visibly on the verge of tears as she then took the stage and recited her celebratory poem, "The Cardinal Sins of Secondary School." The humor in her poem was the perfect counterbalance for the formality of each student coming forward to collect their Dulwich College graduation certificates. In a last round of applause the graduates threw their caps in the air, signalling the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.
The end of the ceremony lifted the mood of formality and a feeling of fun became prevalent. As the buffet was opened and everyone left their seats to line up, it seemed there was not a frown in sight. Dresses were admired, glasses clinked and old stories retold. "We're not even done with the evening and I just know this will be a night to remember," one of the graduates commented.
Dinner was then followed by dancing. Students, teachers and parents all took to the dance floor, rocking to the music of artists ranging from Michael Jackson to Lil Wayne. A real testament to the fact that this was more than a formal event organized by the school, most of the graduates and year 12s were still on the dance floor well past the official end of the event. The Year 12 Organizing Committee should be proud that they had indeed delivered a gift to the year 13s - a grand finale to mark their leaving.
This evening really summarized what it meant to be a part of Dulwich College. As we all said goodbye to those who had led the senior school, we could see that this is how tradition is born. In keeping with Friend's words, with this night alone, we've made our mark, albeit a small one, on the world.
Chelsea White is year 12 student at Dulwich College, Shanghai
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