I remember my first days at Albert like they were yesterday. I remember walking up the long stairs and down the long hall. I remember meeting my first roommate, Fernando, or ‘Side-show Bob’ as we used to call him. The first year was a year of many firsts for me. I met my first Mexican and Russian students. And who can forget Eman, the first rapping Kenyan! Throughout my years at Albert there have been many friends that have come and gone, like busboys in a restaurant. One of the great privileges of boarding at Albert College is that you get to meet people from all over the world. An extension of that privilege is that you end up making friends from all over the world, friends that will provide a lifetime of great memories and smiles for years to come.

 

When I first arrived at Albert College, my sense of responsibility was far from polished. I was coming from an environment and peer group where academic achievement was ranked somewhere below surfing, sailing and swimming, and just above art class....

“I have attended Albert College for 2 years as a boarding student and am in grade 12 this year. I would like to study Psychology at either McMaster, Guelph, Ryerson or Laurier University next year.

 

I was elected by my peers to represent them as a Prefect this year. Being a Prefect is kind of like being a member of student council. We organize events and help to make the school a better place. I think being a prefect means being a good role model and showing initiative and participation in the school community. I also think it means meeting deadlines and being responsible and respectful to each other.

 

My favourite part about being a student at Albert College is living in residence. I live with girls from all over the world and I think it is a great experience to get to share each others cultures and build new friendships with so many different people. Also I think living in residence helps to prepare you for University and the future.

 

I love the athletic program!...

“I am so honoured and privileged to be talking to you on behalf of this year’s graduating class.  I am extremely proud to be a part of the 45 students who, in only a short while, will be ending their high school and Albert College careers.  I think I speak for all my fellow graduates when I say that this year was one of the most unique, stressful and insightful journeys in all our high school years.  And finally, after all the exams, study halls and University applications, we find ourselves surrounded by family and friends, counting down the minutes until we throw our caps up in the air and officially graduate. 

It is with the support of so many people here today, as well as those who could not attend, that we have made it to the final stage of our senior year.  First of all, I would like to thank the staff of Albert College for all that they have done to ensure that we leave Albert prepared and knowledgeable.  But it is not only the lessons and extra help that we appreciate. I don’t know many other schools...

When I signed up to become a prefect last year, I knew that I was signing up for a lot of responsibilities and commitments.

At the beginning of the year, the prefect team had a meeting to plan for this year ahead of time. One of the important things to be discussed at the meeting was chapel chats – when each of us would speak to the whole school about whatever they wanted. I decided to do my chapel chat in May because of various rational reasons. First of all, by getting to go in May, I would still have a very long time ahead of me before I would start getting nervous about writing and saying my chapel chat. The second, and most important, reason was that April the 23rd is a very important national day in Turkey that I could tell students about. Also, I thought that by talking about this day, I could show a video about the importance of the day and the celebrations. Well, initially I loved this idea because it meant less reading, and less pronunciation mistakes. However, as I was working on this chapel...

My final year at Albert has been flying by so quickly!  After almost 11 years at the school, it is difficult to come to terms with the fact my time here is almost over.  I am proud to have been part of the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools at Albert and have been able to grow and learn throughout my years here.  The faculty at the school is fun, passionate and extremely helpful.  Being able to joke and laugh with my teachers every class is something I have grown accustomed to and I am so grateful for their positivity and encouragement.  The school definitely goes the extra mile to make sure that you have the chance to try new things and learn amongst friends.  There are so many opportunities which have allowed me to immerse myself in the 5 A’s of the school (Academics, Athletics, Active Citizenship, Arts and Adventure).    Dog sledding and canoe trips, the wind ensemble and community service fundraisers were all very unique experiences that I will miss as I move on from the school.  My fondest memories of Albert...

There is a story of a young, but earnest Buddhist student who approached his teacher, and asked the Master, “If I work very hard and diligently, how long will it take for me to find Zen? The Master thought about this, then replied, “Ten years.” The student then said, “But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast — How long then?” The Master replied, “Well, twenty years.” “But, if I really, really work at it, how long then?” asked the student. “Thirty years,” replied the Master. “But, I do not understand,” said the disappointed student. “At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that?” The Master replied, “When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path.” The saying, its the journey, not the destination, is cliché, but, like most clichés, its true. For a long time I feel that I have been waiting for life to begin. I thought life would begin when I started high school. I thought life would begin when I got my license. I thought life would begin when I turned 18. Recently I have been thinking that life will finally begin when I get to university. There seems to always be some obstacle in the way, some unfinished business. Although I know that where I began is not as important as where I will end up, but neither are as important and how I got there....