The Commencement Day

Eugene was extremely lucky to have studied in three different international schools (Singapore, Canadian and English Foundation - South Island school.) with all excellent principles in the management. Due to his weak constitution, I had to deal with the school teachers and management for his lateness and absences quite a lot. All of the three schools' showed their utmost understanding to his situations and gave him great support and generous arrangement. Without their open-minded understanding, Eugene would not have his today, his improvement and memorable school life.

Principle Mr John Wary from the secondary SIS has impressed us with his extraordinarily approachable, humble and kind-hearted character. He is really a wonderful leader, teacher and as warm as the students' god father.

It will be his last school weeks in Hong Kong, to show our gratitude and best wish for Mr Wray and his family’s future and happiness, hereby I post his speech in the Commencement Day in my blog. It would be the best gift to Eugene, all Year 2010 students and the parents.


It is a speech which touches our hearts and inspire not only his students but parents that life is a venture, exploration and journey. One should live their full potential no matter how old you are…

Commencement speech 2010



By Mr John Wray

May I start by saying a big thank you to our guests for coming to this commencement ceremony this evening. This is an important occasion; a significant rite of passage for our students and to have you here to witness their graduation is special for us


Before I address you students, I would like to say a big thank you to your parents and families. Parents you have bought your children to this point . You have I’m sure loved and cherished, cared for and admonished and cajoled and worried and so much more and I’m sure that you are a little greyer as a result!

So this moment is as much your success and you should be as proud as these young people will be to have reached this point of successfully graduating from school. At school we are reliant on parents who are involved in their children’s education, who work in partnership with us and who support their children through the challenges and opportunities of school life. You have done these things in abundance and I thank you.


And as this is a commencement for me too I should add a big thank you to my family – and particularly my wife Gill, here tonight who has always given me her unstinting support and love when work has seemed at times overwhelming.


And now to the class of 2010.


Thank you for inviting me to be your guest speaker. I am humbled by your invitation. It means a great deal to me to be able to address the graduating class like this in my final year at SIS.


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Tonight is a key point in your life’s journey, a rite of passage as I referred to it just a minute ago


A journey that superficially has seen you go from Kindergarten to primary school to secondary school. A journey that will see you go on to university or college or gap year or training and then into further study and the world of work.


However beyond this superficial level – your life’s journey has been a complex, sophisticated and a compelling story of challenge and endeavor.


It is a journey that has seen you grow from dependence to near independence, from being totally dependent babies to near independent adults – not forgetting of course the financial and emotional reliance on your family members during the next few university years.

It is a journey that has seen your skills and personal qualities honed and developed. I remember many of you as 10 or 11 year olds just finding your feet in the world, I remember the successes and some of the mistakes some of you made along the way, I remember the joys and the tears, the stresses and happiness of your careers at South island and I look at you now…… confident, self assured and multi skilled ready to begin to find your place in the world.


It is a journey that has seen you be increasingly sure of your core values.. being able to stand up for important things, act in principled ways and take action about things you know are right and important.


It is a journey that has seen you set, achieve and revise goals for yourself, at school, beyond school and increasingly in terms of your future adult life.


As I am many years older than you I am in the very privileged position of having realized some of my goals and dreams and some of them in the last nine years in Hong Kong:


• To have a wonderful family and friends


• To have two fantastic children – who most of you will know were adopted here in Hong Kong


• To be Principal of a great international school with outstanding students and staff


• To have travelled the world and marvelled at beautiful things, both human and natural


• To have a reasonably comfortable way of life that allows me not to worry unduly about money like so many people in the world.


So why, might you ask, as many of you have asked am I moving on? I have often described being Principal at SIS as being in heaven with such outstanding young people, great colleagues, supportive parents and being in Hong Kong one of the world’s most vibrant dynamic cities as being in a dream. It would be lovely to stay here for the next ten years and more but for me life is about new challenges and new adventures. As a young man I once saw a great poster with a quote that has stayed with me for life. It very simply says:


“Ships are safe in the harbour but that is not what ships are built for “

So I am moving on for a new adventure, a new challenge to go to Vancouver to be Head of an all through school. Like with all new ventures it means giving up certainty, success, and being comfortable and replacing it with uncertainty, risk and the need to rebuild/reestablish reputation and success. For some that may seem like madness but for me it is a necessary part of my life.


So this is a key moment for you in your life’s journey.


Many of you are leaving the familiar, the comfortable, the safety of your family, friends and your school. But do not hesitate or falter (hesitate) on this journey it is for now part of your destiny, part of your life’s journey and it is something that all of us have worked towards and prepared for, for at least the last seven years.

So…my final words.


Continue to strive for independence but never forget those who helped you and gave you this opportunity. You are the connected generation and with skype and facebook and much more there is now no excuse for not staying in touch with family, friends and schoolmates and maintaining lifelong friendships.


Continue to strive to develop all your skills to the highest level in a wide range of contexts. Do take risks, push yourself and do not fear failure it is often when we learn most


Strive to clarify but also challenge your core values and beliefs .. always look at a variety of perspectives and use your life experiences around the world to shape who you are and to help you make a positive difference in the world. It is your responsibility to contribute actively to your family to your community and to the world as a whole.


So class of 2010. we bid you farewell but not goodbye. Good luck in your final exams. Remember us and each other, come to visit and stay in touch. My very best wishes to you all.



Thanks Mr Way, what a great principle you are in our mind!