A Valediction

Good afternoon, everyone. 

On September 5, 2020, the sun rose over Campbell Common, and the first members of this Grad class set foot on campus. 

While I remember that day fairly clearly, I remember the night before much more vividly. 

I sat on a swing outside my new house and hysterically bawled my eyes out because I was so scared to come to this school. Mind you, I had just moved away from everything I knew in Toronto. For 30 minutes, my parents watched as I screamed my lungs out on our front lawn until I tired myself out and went to bed. 

What was I afraid of? Was it the unknown? Probably. Was it a change? Definitely, and I think we all had this concern. 

But standing here, 1742 days later, I shake my head at my younger self, because Brentwood has treated me more generously than I ever could have dreamed. Though attending this school comes with its necessary ups and downs, I think most of us can agree that we would do it all over again if we could. Sure, mistakes were made, AirPods were worn in the Killy, kids went on boats or were late to sign in by 43 minutes, but the result of all of this was an outcome that I wouldn’t change for the world - hopefully you wouldn’t either. 

This school has left us with more memories than I think I could list in a 10-minute speech. One thing I have learned as I have grown up here is that the most special thing at this school is how much they pack into one year, let alone five. 

How can this many experiences with this many amazing people fit into five years? In just this year alone, there have been nine Provincial Championships, a National Championship, Senior Play, the Musical, the creation of the BSL - the Brentwood Spikeball league - tears shed and a whole lot of joy. 

The experiences we share, together, as the Class of 2025, are unique to us. Not just within these gates, but in this world. Nobody else in this world understands what cookie breaks, defaulters, cohort groups, or interhouse spirit mean except us. While this unique experience will feel a bit isolating at times, especially in the next year, I ask that you use it as a way to stay in touch with each other. Use the moments that we share to stay in contact after we become scattered around the world. If you call me, I’ll pick up, and if you’re ever in Montreal, you’ll know where to find me. 

Now comes the hard part: the advice. Saying something practical would probably be the most useful thing to apply in the next year, and I could do that. I could say something like, Be financially responsible, wear sunscreen, or please, for the love of God, stop liking Instagram reels. Actually, please take that into consideration. I’m looking at you, Rylie. But, I think I’ll say something a little less helpful or direct, and a bit more ambiguous, so all of you can interpret this in your own way. 

I have high hopes and expectations for all of you in the next chapters of your lives. Please, if you can, take this to heart because I mean it. These past five years, surrounded by all of you, have been the best of my life. I hope you take the energy, curiosity and passion you’ve shown here into the next phase of your life. Attending this school, though a privilege, is no easy feat, but you have handled the challenges and shortcomings with grace, and as a result of this, celebrated the shinier moments with huge smiles and a lot of laughter. 

A wise man, Mr. Ganley, reminded me of what a very wise man, Nelson Mandela, once said: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall”. All of you, at multiple points, have fallen, gotten up, no matter the occasion or circumstances, and kept going. In the future, some may say your persistence is tiring to witness, but I’ll say it’s inspiring, so keep going. 

In a generation where nonchalance is considered cool, please run in the opposite direction of this. Hiding or masking passion, talent and energy does you no favours in achieving your goals or fulfilling your dreams. Be loud, emotional and care. To deny yourself of caring is to deny yourself of your full potential, and you guys have a lot of potential. And on your way towards these goals and dreams, connect with people and live. 

One of life’s greatest pleasures is connecting and sharing moments with people around you. For those you know, and those you don’t know, approach them with empathy and patience, as human beings, that’s all we can ask of each other. 

While I have this opportunity, I would like to extend my gratitude to some people. I won’t get remotely close to thanking everyone, but here are a few. Foug, Ms Cheung and my Mackenzie girls, thank you for being my second family. I will always bleed green and gold. To my people and my best and oldest friends: Ruby, Elena, Isaac, Stella and Julian, there are no words that can truly articulate my appreciation and love for you all. You have changed my life and I am the luckiest person to have been able, by some miracle, to exist at the same time, in the same place, as all of you. Finally, my parents: I owe you everything. I am eternally grateful that you uprooted our lives and gave me the opportunity to go to this school. Last, but definitely not least, to my twin sister, Brynn: you are the reason I am standing straight up, not rambling, and the sole reason I am crying. You are my day one, my other half and my best friend. The reminder on my phone set for 8:00 am every day for the next sixty years, titled “Listen to Brynn,” will keep pushing me in the right direction. 

Going over all of the memories we’ve shared as a Grad class is one of the most bittersweet and difficult things about graduating. Winding down these past few weeks has been one of the weirdest, unreal experiences because we’re getting ready to unlearn what we know and try our best to learn what we don’t. It’s truly hard to try and grasp the fact that this is now a past experience rather than one of our present. 

So, I just wanna say thank you. Wherever you may be, however you may feel, I hope you remember these moments of us together, with a smile as your mind wanders to the big and small memories we shared together. As the sun sets on Gillespie tonight and campus is quiet, know that our mark, the Class of 2025's mark, will live on, as our tenacity, passion, and energy will be remembered. 

Thank you. Ella Wenhardt, Valedictorian, Mack ‘25