Farewell message to Year 12 students at Cardijn College and Marcellin Technical

Have you ever heard the saying “THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME”

Recently I was away on holidays in New Zealand and my wife and I were having a great time, enjoying the beautiful scenery, and catching up with family, but all things ended very quickly, and we returned home and feeling very happy, because there’s no place like home. We were so glad to see our children, our dog and cat and just to sleep in our own bed.

Home is not only where we find security, familiarity, warmth, and love; it is also where we find our sense of purpose and meaning. It is where we turn to in difficult or uncertain times, to ground ourselves and to seek support and advice which we can trust. Home provides us with a firm platform from which we can leap into the unknown and it is a place we always know we can come to, a place where we are known for who we are, not what we have done.

The author John Ed Pearce sums it up beautifully when he said, “Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to.” Home is a sanctuary from a troubled world. It is place where you can be yourself.

Cardijn College/Marcellin Technical has been a second home, a home away from home. Being part of a family has its challenges, but I can say without fear of contradiction that each of our students has enhanced their school home. Their presence at Cardijn College/Marcellin Technical has made a significant difference. Our parents have worked with us, walked with us, and along the way given us great encouragement and confidence to support their children to become the fine young people we see graduate from Year 12.

It is time for our Year 12 students to leave Cardijn College/Marcellin Technical their school home. To go out into the world and be good citizens.

Oliver Wendell Holmes said: “Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” 

On behalf of our Cardijn College/Marcellin Technical community, I thank the Year 12 students of 2017 for the positive legacy they leave for those who will follow. I thank the many staff who have taught, supported, and cared for their students and have been inspiring models of service and love. I especially thank our parents for the faith they have shown in making the decision to have their children educated and trained in this great school.

We salute our students, we thank them, and we send them forth knowing that they are well prepared to tackle their future.

We seek God’s Blessing on each of our students into the future.

Paul Rijken