A Letter to My Students

Dearest Graduates of 2018

Every year the Farewell Ceremony is a very important and symbolic moment. It is like a family coming together to send off a precious son/daughter, a dear brother/sister for a new phase in life. On this day of farewell, it is a time of recollection, reflection and thanksgiving.

In the 4 or 5 years in AI, you have been taught by many teachers. Some of them taught you briefly, others walked with you longer from lower secondary to Sec 4 and even Sec 5. Remember each and every one of them. In these years, you would also have made friends; some of you made many friends, others may have just a few friends but they are really good friends who stood by you in good times and bad.

Then there was all that learning which went on in class, and the fun we shared as a whole school through the Community Day, Sports Carnival, OLE, National Day, Musicals, AESPIRE lunchtime concerts, Teachers’ Day celebrations and of course, your favourite Breakfast with Form Teachers. Remember the Circle Time where you share affirmations among yourselves, understand one another’s concerns and connect as a class. All these form part of the many Ordinary Miracles you have collected year on year since Sec 1.

Special relationships, precious moments, collective memories - keep these close to your heart. Cherish them. For they represent your years growing up as a teenager.

In the four or five years in AI, you had your fair share of growing pains as a teenager too. There were moments you felt lost and frustrated because you were searching for your identity and place in life. Times when you tried so hard to fit in with your peers. Times when you sought to understand and be understood. Regardless, we in AI – the teachers, support staff, viceprincipals and I – we are glad we have walked the entire journey with you till this day. As we persevered with you, we watch you grow. Our constant hope is that you will mature, become wiser and learn to be appreciative.

Dearest graduates of 2018, this is my last lesson with you. I have shared previously that the hall is the biggest classroom in the whole school. Every time we assemble and I stand here to share good news, give a speech and even set expectations, it is my lesson time with you.

So for this last lesson with you, my dear graduates, what will I teach?

When you were in Sec 1, at the Semester 2 closing assembly, I shared with you this story from my collection of picture books – The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. In the story, the tree and the boy share a deep relationship. The relationship goes a long way. As the boy grows up, he would often go away but after a long time, he would always return to the tree. And the tree would be happy whenever the boy returns.

Likewise, I hope the relationship between you and the school will be deep and long-lasting. I hope that after all the pursuits in life, you will know the core place where you can return to. This leads me to a core AI value – Gratitude.

Gratitude is about remembering–remembering the people, the experiences and the place. Gratitude stems from a humility, recognizing and appreciating what others have done for you. Gratitude is to have a heart of thankfulness, to count your blessings. Gratitude is the spirit of paying it forward to others.

The AI torch is a very important symbol of our school identity. When you first joined the school as a Sec 1 student, you would have lit the candles at the end of the Sec 1 campfire. Back then, as a Sec 1 student, it might have been just pure fun. But the lighting of the candles actually holds a lot of meaning. As each candle is lit, we finally see the school initial, AI, formed up. It signifies how each one of you will help light up the lives of others and bring glory to the school while you spend your secondary school life here.

On this farewell day, we have the lighting of the AI torch to complete the whole experience for you. One more Ordinary Miracle for you. As light the AI torch, may it inspire each and every one of you the graduating students – to do your utmost best in the coming national exams and continue to bring glory to the school through your future endeavours.

As I end this letter, my wish for you, dearest graduates of 2018, is that you will treasure all the Ordinary Miracles@AI. May you always love AI with a heart of gratitude. With that same heart of gratitude, you will have the impassioned spirit to make a difference and serve the common good wherever you go in life. The school vision exalts - Care, learn and excel for AI and for nation. So, just as you have been blessed by the Ordinary Miracles@AI, go forth and create ordinary miracles for others.

Keep the AI flame alive, keep the AI flag flying high!

Sincerely,

Ms Chew Ing Lim Your Principal