Year 12 Graduation
Year 12 Graduation 2020
2020 has been a year like no other; a year to remember and treasure forever. Despite all the disruptions, the Year 12s have continued to display resilience despite being faced with adversity and formally celebrated the end of their schooling journey at the Class of 2020 Graduation on Friday the 4th of December.
If you’d like to watch a rerun of the livestreamed graduation, you can go to https://youtu.be/aQyckTTWJ_0
Andrew Leap
2020 College Captains
College Captains Introductory Speech
Welcome everyone to South Oakleigh College’s Class of 2020 Graduation. I’d like to begin by recognising the parents that couldn’t be here today due to COVID-19. To everyone watching at home we are so grateful for the support, love and care you’ve given us over the past 13 years of our education. Hi mum, Hi dad!
Over to our teachers and staff here at South Oakleigh: On behalf of the Year 12 cohort, we thank you for your dedication and commitment to us over the past six years at the school. In particular, we are grateful for all the behind the scenes work you have continued to do for us during our crazy senior year, including tonight. Although our journey here as students has come to an end, the memories made here will forever be remembered.
With that being said, before we continue, we’d like to take a moment to present a small token of our appreciation for the continuous guidance of our Year 12 teachers.
The year 12 cohort proudly present these individual cards to express the impact our teachers have had on us throughout our high school journey.
Finally, to the graduating Class of 2020, this year more than ever, it is a relief and blessing to say “we’ve made it”. Having grown up with most the people in this room, it’s safe to say that the anxious Year 7s we were as we stepped through the glass doors in 2015 would have never guessed that our final year would have turned out the way it did.
However, we’ve stayed strong through the toughest of times. We are a unique year level with experiences no one else will ever have. Being all in this together we’ve bonded like no other year.
I know we all grew up watching High School Musical and were disappointed to find out High School was nothing like the movie made us believe – especially with a global pandemic no one could have predicted.
Despite the upsets we faced we have so much to look forward to. The next chapter in our lives, as scary as it may be, is an opportunity for us to grow and develop on our own. To use the values of High Expectations, Respect, Responsibility, Resilience and Teamwork that South Oakleigh has taught us.
In 26 days’ time at 7am when VCAA begins to crash, we will all be a nervous wreck when viewing our ATAR and results from this year. An important message Andrew and I would like to pass along to the Class of 2020 is that your ATAR is merely a number.
In no way shape or form does this number define you. Please remember that as a cohort we should all be extremely proud for making it this far and we should look back with pride on the journey we have paved for ourselves
Looking back over the years, many students have come and gone but I know I can talk for us all when I say the friendships we’ve made here are with some of the most beautiful and loving people I have ever had the privilege of meeting.
We are so thankful for all the opportunities we’ve had together since Year 7 and can’t wait to see where each and every one of you end up over the coming years
Although the night has just started we wanted to tell you all it has been an honour to be your College Captains for 2020.
Stacie Varsamidis & Andrew Leap
2020 College Captains
Valedictorian Speech
I think it’s safe to say that the journey that all of us have taken to get to this very moment in time has not been an easy one, for any of us. There have been challenges throughout our life that we thought we would never overcome. And there have been accomplishments that we never thought we would achieve, whether it be academically, socially or otherwise.
It is these moments that continue to define who we are as a person and the values that we continue to uphold each and every single day. We all lead very unique adventures called life and part of our journey here at South Oakleigh is coming to an end; the school where you know everyone, and everyone knows you, the community that can come together in times of need and the family that will always support you and be there for you.
For me, the achievements I have made could not have been possible without the people in front of me tonight. My parents: who have always pushed for me to do my best in everything I can. My friends: who have always supported my ideas but had the willingness to tell me when I’m wrong. The Class of 2020: who have made the past six years an unforgettable experience I will always treasure. And all the staff: who have worked tirelessly and with absolute professionalism to ensure their students achieve the best they can be
Without the support and encouragement from everyone around me, I would not be where I am today.
I suspect it’s the same for everyone in this room. Our friends choose to be there when we’re upset, because we want them to know that everything will be okay. Our hard-working and inspiring teachers choose to spend time outside of class to help their students because they want us to do the best we can. Our parents choose to make tough decisions and sacrifices based on what they believe will be the best for us.
The people around us have chosen to invest their time, their effort and their belief in us because they know we are all capable of doing amazing things. Now is the time to take full ownership of our lives and discover where life will take us. Now is the time to show everyone how we will leave our mark in this world no matter how big or small. And now is the time to show everyone that their commitment has been worth it.
My parting words to you all, the Class of 2020, is a passage from the beloved Dr Suess. “Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So, love the people who treat you right, forgive the ones who don’t and believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it’d be easy, they just promised it would be worth it”
Andrew Leap
Class of 2020 Valedictorian