Graduation Night 2021

Farewell Year 12 Class of 2021

As you read this we are recovering from our night of celebration with the class of 2021.

The Year 12 Graduation ceremony, at The Centre Ivanhoe, was filled with stories of success, proud teachers, triumphant and happy students. It was a night that students got to share with their supportive parents and guardians, who could not help but shed a tear or two given the significance of the occasion.

The school Dux of 2020, Tara Mevissen, addressed the class of 2021 and offered words of advice and encouragement as students awaited their results day on Thursday 16th December.

We want to thank all of you for helping us celebrate the achievements for all those who completed the Year 12 Certificate in 2021. Our sincere congratulations go to the Class of 2021. We wish them happiness, good health and good fortune in their future endeavours.

Year 12s,  you go with our fondest farewell and best wishes.

Year 12 Team

Tom Ding

Carla Ruhe

Christine Farmakis

Tara Mevissen's - speech

Good evening class of 2021,

I'm really honored to be here on such a special night for you all, and would like to first congratulate you on graduating here tonight. 

Tonight is firstly a night to celebrate the completion of your schooling years. Next year you will all disperse into different pathways of life, some on a gap year, some straight to work, and some will continue into higher education. Last year I chose the latter option and throughout this year I have been studying an undergraduate degree in science at the University of Melbourne. I know you might feel pressure to have already decided what career you will be in 5, 10 years down the track, but throughout this year I studied both the chemistry and physics science streams to try to figure out what major I want for my degree - i think i've finally narrowed it to chemical engineering (shout out Ms Farmakis). 

To be completely honest, studying my course this year had its ups and downs. I was sometimes concerned I wouldn’t perform the way I wanted to, and yet in the end I was able to achieve results above my expectations which reassures me I’m on the right path. But I know that's not the case for everyone going into tertiary study, some blitzing through their courses with ease and some deciding that wasn’t right for them within the first few weeks. 

Even so, scores matter so much less at university. I’ve learnt that so long as you maintain a pass you will find a way to the qualification you desire, otherwise known as ‘P’s get degrees’, and achieving beyond that is celebrated but not vital. So long as you are in a course that you enjoy, that’s all that matters. 

Aside from studying, this year I also feel I’ve grown so much as a person. I spent a lot of my time in year 12 cooped up in my room in lockdowns focusing on my studies, and as much as study is important in uni, I feel like so many other things have been raised in importance too. Whether it's the increase in free time, or the reshuffling of my priorities, this year (even in lockdown) I feel I’ve gotten to know who I am so much more. I tried joining clubs, met so many new people, and even became close friends with people from Thornbury I hardly talked to throughout high school. Being thrown into this new environment and finding your feet can seem so daunting, but with everyone around you going through the same experience you’ll make connections that help you navigate through it all. Life will lead you to places you never thought of next year, and I think that's pretty exciting. 

Not only is tonight your graduation, but it is also the night before vce results are released. So though this event is supposed to be the end of it all, I don’t remember truly starting to feel I’d moved beyond high school until my results came out. I know for many of you, tonight will be a restless night, just like it was for me a year ago, but by tomorrow you will truly be free from the emotional rollercoaster of year 12. I know you all put so much time and energy into this year, and just know that the numbers you’ll receive tomorrow can’t possibly summarise each of your individual experiences throughout the year, as much as it tries to. You did what you could, and you can’t change that now. There is no doubt there will be a mixed bag of emotions tomorrow for you all, but whatever you get it's only your very first step into a whole new chapter of your life. As soon as you get into whatever your plans are for next year that score will just be a number that quickly diminishes in relevance to your life. And, once you figure out what you want to achieve in these next few years, and you set your mind to it, you will get there in the end, no matter what happens tomorrow. 

Well done class of 2021, make sure you enjoy the night and thanks for having me.