MATTHEW CALLAGHAN , AND THE VICE CAPTAIN , GEOFF LIU , ADDRESSED FROM THEIR SPEECHES .
FEARLESS , AS YOU STRIVE TO BE THE BEST YOU CAN AS A SCOTCHIE
Welcome back to Scotch College for 2024 . In particular , I ’ d like to extend a warm welcome on behalf of the whole Scotch Family to our new boys and staff , who I am sure will thrive through all that our school has to offer . I also hope that you will join me in receiving Matthew Callaghan with open arms as our School Captain for this year . Having known Matt for many years now , I have no doubt that he will lead the school with poise and purpose .
It has been five years since I first hopped off the tram and walked through the Monash Gates in 2019 , so this is indeed my last year at the school . In light of this , while writing this speech over the summer , I did a little self-reflection to think about where I have ended up . If I had a chance to speak to myself from five years ago , what would I have said ?
I still remember the nebula of emotions I felt as I stood in this very Quad for the first time , listening to this very speech by the then Vice Captain . I was disoriented , nervous , worried – the list goes on . Rightfully so , I think , because Scotch was and is a huge environment with an infinite permutation of pathways to choose from . Yet , in many ways , the vastness and unending possibilities of our school are the very things that make it special . It would be challenging to find another place with the same variety of opportunities in the arts , sports and academics as Scotch , so I was naturally hesitant in taking my first steps .
To that , I say that you are always in control of your next step , even if your previous ones did not turn out the way you had imagined . If you choose to partake in a school play but find that it doesn ’ t suit you , never let that discourage you from joining the debating team . Maybe your summer sport felt like a waste of time – why not swap to a new one for the next season ? It is these individual steps that one by one contribute towards your own , unique identity as a Scotch boy and , eventually , a young man . And how lucky we are to be in a place where we are supported at every twist and turn along this road – not only in the physical through such beautiful schoolgrounds and wondrous facilities , but also in the relational through our friends and teachers .
Here , I ’ d like to emphasise the importance of acquainting yourselves with your teachers . They are the stalwarts of your Scotch odyssey and will guide you in your journey . We are blessed with teachers whose passion for their craft is unparalleled , and emblematic of the enthusiasm and Scotch spirit that we strive for . Not to mention the importance of having supportive friends , who I am sure that you will settle in with in the coming weeks and months , and with whom you will live through a myriad of experiences and forge countless unforgettable memories . So , instead of telling what the 2019 version of me did wrong or giving him a list of checkpoints and achievement deadlines to meet , I would ask that he appreciate the plethora of opportunities from which he can carve his own path . I would ask that he cherish his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with the wonderful people whom I now call my Scotch Family , which he can always rely on , no matter which step he will take next . And finally , I would ask that he remains fearless in becoming the best version of a Scotchie that he can be .
Above all else , enjoy your time here – because as the old German proverb goes : everything has an end ; only the sausage has two .
I look forward to seeing you all around the school – please feel free to have a chat with any of Matt , the prefects and me , and in closing , my very best wishes to you for your own 2024 . GEOFF LIU – SCHOOL VICE CAPTAIN
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