Page 6 - The Regent Digest (Special 2024 Graduation Edition)

HEAD GIRL’S ADDRESS
JORDAN OGBETUO
HEAD GIRL
t feels surreal to think back to when we first
entered secondary school in Year 7, small and
Iscared of what the next chapter would bring.
I remember being so tiny, cautious of passing by
the seniors and worried they might accidental-
ly step on me. But those days are now a distant
memory.
1898 days, 45,552 hours, 2,733,120 minutes, 5 years,
2 months, 11 days of my life, that’s how long I have
been a Student of the Regent. Good morning, es-
teemed parents, faculty, SLT, Mrs A, my fellow stu-
dents and the amazing graduating set of 2024.
I am Jordan Tosan Ogbetuo, honoured to stand
before you today as the 14th Head Girl of Regent
THE REGENT SECONDARY SCHOOL
cracked the joke of the century. Litlle did we know
1898 DAYS,
45,552 HOURS,
2,733,120 MINUTES,
5 YEARS, 2 MONTHS,
11 DAYS OF MY LIFE,
Secondary School Abuja. To each of you gath-
ered here, I may hold the title of Head Girl, but to
many, I am also a daughter, a sister, a captain,
and a leader. Mr. Arthur calls me “Ginga,” while
Mr. Olawyi fondly refers to me as “Oyinbo.” Yet,
throughout my time here, I’ve strived to be more
than titles; I’ve aimed to be a friend to all.
Reflecting on our journey, it feels like just yester-
day that 101 young, eager faces entered the Big
blue gates of Regent Secondary School. Each
of us brought with us our unique backgrounds,
experiences, and dreams. The orientation ses-
sion on that Friday only hinted at the adventure
ahead, but the reality surpassed any expecta-
tions I had.
I remember being a young eager year 7 sev-
en student, sitting down and listening to the
graduating class of 2021 give their speeches on
why they should be a prefect. In that moment I
turned over to urenna and I told her, thats going
to be us one day, and we are going to run and
win. After i said that, we both laughed as if i had
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We picked this as a reminder not only to ourselves
we would be sat here today exiting as the head girl
and the esteemed Sports prefect.
Over the past five years, this school has been more
than just a place of learning; it has been a vessel
of experiences and a font of wisdom. Guided by
the principles of Respect, Responsibility, and Re-
sourcefulness, instilled in us by the ethos of Re-
gent, I have grown into a person equipped to face
the challenges of the world beyond these walls.
If you asked anyone to describe the set of 2024
you would be given words like excellent, well-be-
haved, smart, funny, a little bit noisy and most im-
portantly, lovable. Yes, lovable. You would never
meet another set of 84 children who grow from
being strangers to friends and a big family. As of
recent, as part of our graduation rituals, we paint-
ed a mural. And we picked a house of balloons. It
is said that a house with balloons represents many
things. Primarily, it signifies the desire to break free
from the constraints of daily life, seeking adven-
ture and new experiences. Such an image also
evokes nostalgia and memories, as seen in the
movie “Up,” where the house is filled with cherished
moments and the balloons represent the power of
those memories to lift us up and carry us forward.
Additionally, balloons are often seen as symbols
of hope and dreams, suggesting that one can
achieve their aspirations no matter the obstacles.
The whimsical nature of a house floating with bal-
loons further evokes a sense of wonder and the
boundless possibilities of imagination.
Moreover, it illustrates the determination and per-
severance to pursue one’s goals and dreams, even
if the means to achieve them are unconventional
or challenging.
THE REGENT SECONDARY SCHOOL
but to everyone who comes and goes through
those blue gates. We all can achieve whatever we
put our minds to. And as Miss Amaka would always
tell us at the end of her motivational speeches at
the year assembly, “You are capable.” These aren’t
just words, It is an affirmation that I have told my-
self every day for the last 5 years.
Before I delve further into my speech, I must ex-
tend my heartfelt gratitude. Firstly, to our beloved
parents, whose unwavering support and sacrifices
have enabled us to receive the finest education in
Abuja. Your love and dedication are our motiva-
tion, and our stellar IGCSE results will be our testa-
ment to your investment in us.
To my amazing mother, who is my role model and
best friend, thank you for always encouraging me
to believe in myself. To my little sister, who always
managed to cheer me up when school became
overwhelming, thank you, I love you both more
than words can describe. To my incredible juniors
in the crowd; Christien, Affy, Zhaaf, Imam, Chevon,
Yahya, and Azzydeen, thank you for always check-
ing up on me. I will miss you all dearly.
To my wonderful friends; Umar, Adebola, Sere-
na, Gesi, Xavier, Charbella, Audrey, Katya, Denzel,
Debbie, IK, Leon, Tharah, Busayo, Dara, Fati, Ami-
na, Iorwen, Deedat, and Homachi and so many
more, thank you for making school more fun. From
dancing and singing in the corridors to panicking
and doing last-minute studying for tests, you’ve
created endless memories with me. I will miss you
all so much.
To my sister, guardian angel, and better half, Uren-
na, I don’t know what I would have done without
you. Funny enough, when they announced me as
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