Wild Life Training Centre

Here's the text of my mother's speech at my graduation from high school in 1993 (my parents were the chief guests). I continue to maintain that comparisons to wild animals contained therein have no basis in reality.

Reverend Father Rector, Father Principal, Teachers and staff of St. Joseph's, guests, fellow parents and students.....

I have always thought of a boys' school as a sort of Wild Life Training Centre. We bring our wild, untrained young cubs here and enrol them in the fourth standard. And it is nothing short of a miracle that they turn out into the fine young men we see before us today. They have learned the three R's, they have learned about the world and they have learned to wash behind their ears.

This is a joyous occasion which marks an important passage in the lives of our sons. They will now leave behind the world of school children and enter the world of college men. Yet, I feel a tinge of sadness that this may be one of the last such gatherings we will attend at this school.

When I think back on our association with St. Joseph's, I remember the congenial atmosphere of the school. There is a feeling of openness and freedom here which I think the students have always valued. For this our gratitude goes to Father Coelho, who administers the school with tolerance and kindness.

We owe a debt of gratitude to all the teachers and staff of the school.

When I think of what it's like to manage one boisterous ten-year-old at home, my heart goes out to the teachers who have to manage fifty of them in the classroom. Over the years, you teachers have imparted knowledge, skills and values to our sons. They will carry these gifts with them throughout their lives.

One of the outstanding features of St. Joseph's is the encouragement it gives for boys to excel in sports. Our thanks go out to the sports coaches who trained the boys and spurred them on and taught them to accept defeat as well as victory. You gave them all the thrilling experiences that can only be had on the playing field.

St. Joseph's is a prestigious institution and our boys will carry its name with them wherever they go. I think they will recall their years in this school with pride and affection. And when I look into the future I see these boys as grown men who will then have little cubs of their own. I hope they will be as fortunate as we parents have been and find as fine a school as St. Joseph's to send their youngsters to.

May I thank you, Father Principal, for giving me this opportunity to speak.

On behalf of all the parents, I wish all of our sons an exciting journey into the future. And I extend the deepest gratitude, once again, to you all at St. Joseph's.

Thank you.

Maya Kamath