A transcript of RSS Principal Mike Hooker’s address to the 2009 Graduating class.

Dear Grads,

I told you yesterday I’d be up here telling you just how much I cared about you … I think I might have even said I ‘loved’ you guys. No. I was not under the influence of any substance. But yes, I was suffering from a well documented end of June ailment, “itsoveritis” -- that’s the condition of relief that you made it, combined with a kind of euphoric feeling that you are on your way … you are ready … well mostly.

I also told you yesterday that I’d talk until one of you shed a tear. I see you all welling up there, and I’ve changed my mind – the speech goes on.

You’ve each taken different paths to get to this point in your life. Right here, right now though, you are equal. Each of you with a good lookin’ gown, many of you, wearing appropriate clothing beneath that gown … I don’t want to know details.

Seriously, looking at you I see success. There are top marks, top musicians, top athletes, and actors, tradespersons, and artistes and the list goes on.

That said, school is not all about the accomplishments that can be recorded on a report card, on a certificate or an award.

Among you, there are good friends and friendships. There is all the good stuff you learned about yourselves and your friends as you worked and played your way through high school.

I see you walking across the stage and later out the door, and I want nothing more than for you to be a good person. I hope that you have developed that sense of integrity, honesty and strength of character that leads you to that point when you know in your head you do the right thing for you and those around you.

And you know, you developed these qualities by making mistakes. Some of you got lots of practice, and lots and lots of opportunities to learn from your mistakes! Some of those are the kind of mistakes that we can all look back and laugh about, and some of those are, well, let’s wait a little longer before we laugh about them.

“Itsoveritis” also leaves me with that feeling that I hope each of you felt like you were cared about in this building. Yeah, we pushed you, and yeah, you pushed back, but in the end, you got you where you needed to be.

I look forward to the day when you look back on your school life and smile, and remember how that teacher got you through, how that one made you crazy, and how that one, well you made him crazy.

I also look forward to you coming back here to laugh about those mistakes, tell us about your success, and to remind us why we care so much about you.

All the very best, Grads. We love you guys!