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Prize giving ceremony of Alexander High School
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Education

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 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
SPEECH BY MEC FOR EDUCATION
 AT THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY OF ALEXANDER HIGH SCHOOL

ON 14TH OCTOBER 1999



Masters of ceremonies, Mr and Mrs. Enslin, Members of the Governing Council, parents, teachers and learners, allow me first of all to 
express my sincere appreciation to you for inviting me to be your guest speaker at this Prize- Giving Ceremony this evening. Coming home to 
perform such a duty is indeed an honour and a privilege.

I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate all our learners that will receive prizes this evening. This is your evening and it 
will go down in the history of the school that all your hard work and perseverance have been recognised and rewarded by the school.

I also want to congratulate our matriculants for having come to the end of your school career. This must be a moment of great joy , but 
also a deep sense of appreciation to all the teachers and parents who have contributed towards the moulding of your characters and 
preparing you for the challenges that lie ahead in the new millennium.

As teachers we always and must present a picture of optimism of the world out there. Some of you may find that life is not always that easy 
and rosy and may become disillusioned and think life is unfair.

We are presently going through a very difficult period in the economy of our Country when it is not always easy to find a job or getting 
into a tertiary institution due to financial circumstances. The challenges that you may be confronted with will at times let a person feel 
lonely and deserted or instil a feeling of being left in the lurch.

The question arises as to how does one faces these challenges. I would like to briefly suggests a few options :

* Do well in the coming exams ! This is your immediate priority. Good results do open doors and create opportunities for you. It lays the 
basis on which you can build your future.

Die Apostel Paulus praat in 1Korintiers 9 vers 34 van atlete wat aan &#145;n wedloop deelneem. Almal wat aan &#145;n wedstryd deelneem moet 
sekere opofferings maak om uiteindelik by die wenpaal uit te kom. Sy pleidooi is dat almal so moet hardloop om die prys te kan wen.
 Alhoewel Paulus praat van &#145;n hemelse prys , het dit ook van toepassing op al ons matriekulante en die res van die leerlinge wat 
eersdaags eksamen gaan afle.
 Sukses is net moontlik as ons opofferings kan maak. Elke beskikbare tyd moet nou aan julle studie gewy word.

Ek wil dus almal sterkte toewens met julle eksamens en wil die hoop uitspreek dat julle almal gaan slaag. Studeer haard en laat jul ouers 
trots voel op julle prestasies
 Alexandria Hoerskool het &#145;n trotse rekord wanneer dit kom by eksamen uitslae en ek wil die hoof en die personnel bedank vir die goeie 
werk wat u almal lewer.

* A second very important point I want to make is never to give up. Each one of you has the God given potential to realise your dreams . 
You must never doubt your ability to overcome setbacks and obstacles in life. Always think positive and say to yourself : " I can ! " 
Phillipians 4: 13 : " I can do anything through Christ that gives me the strength ."

* Lastly, each one of you has a contribution to make towards shaping the future of our country, irrespective of how young you may be.

At school you are taught the values of discipline , loyalty and respect for your fellow learners . These attributes must stay with you for 
the rest of your lives. It must assist you to make a meaningful contribution towards all efforts in society to address all forms of 
violence and combating life threatening issues such as aids etc.

* Ek wil ook van hierdie geleentheid gebruik maak om ons ouers aan te moedig om nog meer by die skool se bedrywighede betrokke te raak. Die 
skool kan hoegenaamd nie alleen vorm en bou aan die karakters en toekoms van u kinders nie. Die Suid - Afrikaanse Skole Wet vereis 
volgehoue betrokkenheid van ouers by die bestuur en beheer van u skool. Die invloede van ons tyd is te geweldig om die opvoeding van u 
kinders alleen aan die skool oor te laat. Kom ons verstewig hierdie vennootskap tussen die skool, die huis en die gemeenskap.

In conclusion , master of ceremonies, I want to read the following message that a father once gave to his son and I want all our learners 
to remember it as they proceed into the new millenium. :

THE POINT

This is your first game, son.
 I hope you win.
 I hope you win for your sake
 not mine.
 Because winning’s nice.
 It’s a good feeling.
 Like the whole world is yours.
 But it passes this feeling.
 And what lasts is what you’ve learned.


And what you learn about is life.
 That’s what sport is all about .
 Life&#133;.
 The happiness of life .
 The miseries.
 The joys.
 The heartbreaks&#133;.

There’s no telling how you’ll do.
 You might be a hero
 Or you might be absolutely nothing.
 There’s just no telling .
 Too much depends on chance.
 On how the ball bounces.

I’m not talking about the game, son.
 I’m talking about life.
 But it’s life that the game
 Is all about.
 Just as I said.

Because every game is life.
 And life is a game.
 A serious one.
 Dead serious &#133;..

Winning is fun.
 Sure.
 But winning is not the point.
 Wanting to win is the point.
 Never giving up is the point.
 Never being satisfied
with what you’ve done
Is the point.
 Never letting up
 Is the point.
 Never letting anyone down
 Is the point.

Play to win.
 Sure.
 But lose like
 A champion.
 Because it’s not winning
 that counts.

What counts is
trying.

I thank you !!!!



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