On Tuesday, June 16 the Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) celebrated their graduating class of 2015. CISB notes that of their 37 graduates, 20 students had averages above 80 percent, with four graduates reaching academic excellence with distinction, having averages above 90 percent.
Senior class leader, Wang W. had a class of average of 91.42 percent and received the prestigious Governor General’s Bronze Medallion for the highest academic standing in the graduation class during Grades 11 and 12. Wendy delivered the following valedictory address to her fellow graduates:
“Thank you Mr. Prescott. Good evening, Ambassador Saint Jacques, Dr.Pang,teachers, staff, parents, and most importantly, graduates of 2015. I am honoured to stand before you as your valedictorian today. First of all, allowed me to congratulate the class of 2015 and say that we have made it! A few days ago, I sat in front of my computer pondering what to say on this stage and so I had a flashback, beginning from the first day I stepped into this school in 2011 till the day I handed in my last IB examination to Mr.Dorey.
I thought about the people who arrived in my life and helped me through this wonderful high school experience. The teachers who have volunteered their after school free time to answer our questions the day before the unit test, who were willing to read our essays even when we sent it at midnight, and who have put their full efforts into preparing us not only for the final examination but also for those in university and future life. To show our appreciation for our teacher’s hard work, let’s give them a well deserved round of applause.
I would like to thank the parents for giving us endless support and encouragement through this high school journey, whether it is the IB program or the New Brunswick program, for worrying about university applications, sometimes even more than we do, and most importantly, for providing us the opportunity to study in such a dynamic environment, the chance to make friends for life, and the possibility to embrace the bright future ahead of us. Yet, they have sacrificed a lot in exchange for this. I would like each of the students to look to their parents and see if their wrinkles have deepen, if their eye circles have darken, and iftheir hair has whiten. For their sacrifice, please join with me and let us give them a round of applause.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my fellow classmates. When I look at each of you now, I can see the memories we have made in the past years. Some are funny, some are sad, and some are happy, yet each one is unique in its own way. It seems just like yesterday when Mr.Karazik’s class were dancing to the SOH CAH TOA gentlemen music, it seems just like yesterday when we picked out our IB courses, and it seems just like yesterday when we complained about how many Internal Assessments and papers we have to finish. The laughter we had in the classrooms, the tears we shed when we lost a game in a tournament, the cups of coffee, tea, energy drinks, and even the mark on our hands from writing too much will become the most cherished memories that we will have.
Now we are at the end of high school, yet I wouldn’t call it an ending. In fact, I see it as the new beginning for a bright future. So I present a dare to the class of 2015. I dare you to dream and to dream big and even bigger, just like the next Iphone. I dare you to have the courage to chase after those dreams and wishes, whether it is to open your own business, or to become a successful engineer, or to design your own clothing line, even to go bungee jumping. I dare you to constantly challenge yourself, to join the club you are interested in at the beginning of freshmen year, to run for class president, to try out an exchange program to places you have never been. I dare you.
Once again, congratulations to the class of 2015. I look forward to seeing who we have become as we celebrate our 10th year reunion. Thank you ladies and gentlemen!”
Photo: Courtesy of CISB
