Page 10 - The Regent Digest (Special 2024 Graduation Edition)

DEPUTY HEAD BOY’S ADDRESS
ood morning everyone, parents, board of
the Regent school, friends and the class of
G2024. To start off I will be reading a stanza
from one of my favourite poems called “IF” by Ru-
dyard Kipling ;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
Many of you know me as a performer, either
through singing, dancing, acting, or from playing
a musical instrument on stage, but above all I am
the creation of everyone I have ever interacted
with.
3 years ago I started my journey in this fine in-
stitution not knowing what I would face and the
challenges I would go through as I first entered
these four walls. I want to thank everyone who has
helped me on my journey. I want to thank Mrs A for
giving me the opportunity to be accepted into this
school which contributed to the progression of my
education. Mr Akin for being a father figure for me
and always making time to give me advice when I
needed it, thank you for not only being my teacher
but guidance. Ms Fasasi for her constant encour-
agement to make sure I succeeded in my aca-
demics and for shouting at me every time I slept
in math class. Ms Halima for always noticing me
on my bad days and constantly making efforts to
THE REGENT SECONDARY SCHOOL
check up on me even when I asked you not to so thank you to George, Mama and Nora, I know
bother. Mr Adeodu for all your stories during lit-
erature class and all the Greek mythology sto-
ries I became fond of. Ms Suzan for constantly
pushing me to be at my best making sure I gave
BUT ABOVE ALL, I
my all even no matter the situation. Mr Kings for
being another father figure in my life, shower-
ing me with constant praises every time we saw
AM THE CREATION each other in the hallways even at times I felt
OF EVERYONE I forget you. Mr Okolo and Ms Decker for not only
like I did not deserve such, and I know I will never
being my house parents but council through-
HAVE EVER out my time in boarding, always trying to lead
me on a straight path when it seemed like I was
INTERACTED WITH. going astray. Mr Ben and Mr Temitope for your
constant pep talks and impromptu rap battles
in the hostel, your bad jokes will be missed.
I want to thank our head of year Ms Amaka for
her relentless efforts to see us succeed, mak-
ing sure we came to school with the right mind-
set to prepare for the day ahead, her coasting
around lockers making sure to punish anyone
who dared to go back to their lockers after the
bell rang. And of course, I wouldn’t forget the
warrior himself Mr Akinola, I want to thank every
staff member I have met across the way, Mr On-
akoya, Ms Mercy, Ms Maria, Ms Joy, Ms Kalu, Mr
Ageh, Mr Kingsley and so on.
I want to thank most especially my aunt Ms Nosa
for welcoming me into her home at the start of
my journey in The Regent Secondary School,
not knowing what challenges would come after,
for never giving up on me even when it proved
tiresome in trying to raise me, for helping me
become a little less awkward when talking and
being able to open up to people more, for all the
BABAJIDE THOMPSON
advice you’ve given to me even though it took
DEPUTY HEAD BOY a while before I listened, for giving me the best
brother and sisters I could have ever asked for
10 10 THE REGENT SECONDARY SCHOOL
I have not been the best to have around but I’m
happy you never let me go, you may not be my
mum by blood but you are by heart.
I want to thank the woman who gave me my life’s
blood, my mum for always being there for me
and doing her best to give me everything I know
it hasn’t been easy doing it alone, I want you to
me and do not take anything you have done for
know I appreciate everything you have done for
me for granted and I aim to make sure I show
you that I appreciate it more often. My mother
never gave me any idea that I couldn’t do any-
thing I wanted to
do or be anything I wanted to be as long as I put
my all into it. Thank you for the late nights you
spent every time I was sick. Thank you for the time
you travelled all the way from Benin to Abuja on
short notice when I had Covid. Thank you for al-
ways making ends meet during hard times. For
the long nights, you worked to make sure I had
an education. I couldn’t have asked for a better
mum to raise me and I just hope I could make
you proud.
Thank you to the people who made me see life
not just for its flaws but its beauty as well. Thank
you for making my days much more bearable. I
will not forget the people I have met during my
stay here, Bahir, Afam, and Jamal I won’t forget
our late night study breaks which turned into ex-
cuses for longer hours of gossiping, To the Obi
boys Agabi, MJ, Ehi, Imran, Imam, Josiah, ADX,
Azzyden and Maxime, I won’t forget the countless
games of mafia we had in the common room
and impromptu rap or dance sessions anywhere
along the school with no other music but Josiah’s
beatboxing.
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