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Dearest IB graduates,
Once upon a time, in August 2005,
there was a merger. A merger of students with school-backgrounds from Denmark,
Europe, The Middle East, Africa, Asia, and America – in itself this is
spectacular, but what is even more fantastic is that this merger was fruitful.
All the diversity has shown itself right from the beginning. I will try to
exemplify: it was proved that certain Danish IB/CAS coordinators, who shall
remain unnamed, are useless at Barbequing, because they lack knowledge of a
distinct African fanning technique; further on in time there was a wonderful,
but demanding idea of a multi-religious debating club, and finally the March
2007 art-exhibition reflected everything from the British love of beer, to the
architectural destructions of war in Sarajevo and a circular tribute to
Botswana.
The IB Diploma Programme is the pride
of the International Baccalaureate Organisation, therefore it is interesting
to see that they have chosen a picture showing the Danish IB tradition of the
international caps on their latest information brochure, which has just come
out. This Danish tradition combined with the international-mindedness that you
embody is unique.
When a
class starts at Nyborg Gymnasium – the group of teachers assigned to teach it,
always wonder whether this new constellation will work, whether the students
will embrace the programme and engage in it – of course that is every
teacher’s dream. In the IB section, the hope for students who embrace the
programme is perhaps even stronger, as it means a lot that all the students
come together in spite of differences. You have proved that you have the
ability to adapt and learn in an international class environment and a Danish
setting.
The
International Baccalaureate Organisation is an organisation with high
expectations – not only reflected in the exams. It also holds as its ambition
for IB students to develop certain characteristics. It says: “If life were
perfect, we would all be: Inquirers, thinkers, communicators and risk takers,
who are: Balanced, caring, reflective, knowledgeable, principled and
open-minded.” The tricky part for an IB teacher is to weave these values into
the daily lessons, but with you it has been easy – for as a group you seem to
embody these values naturally. You are independent and responsible and you
take good care of each other. Every time we have left you with a challenge,
you have taken it and come up with beautiful results – whether it has been to
arrange an academically challenging trip to institutions of power and finance
in Copenhagen, or a creative and eye-opening knowledge treasure-hunt in the
Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris. When challenged you show a sense of
togetherness and critical thinking that show us your amazing personalities,
and prove the ‘transcendentalist’ quote that: “What lies behind us and what
lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.”
As you sit
here today, you are but 31 of 60.000 IB Diploma graduates this year. These
60.000 graduates sit in 125 countries, around the world, waiting for their
results to be published on the 6th of July. Therefore your wear
your caps, not only with a well-deserved pride, but also with a certain
anxiety, as you are still on your way to the real graduation day. Therefore, I
would like to quote the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, who has a passage,
which translates like this: I beg you… to have patience with everything
unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they
were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language…..The point is
to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far (or
near) in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your
way into the answer….”
The IBO strives to provide “Education
for a better world”, by letting you unfold your lives in this world, I am sure
that you will contribute towards that goal. You have spent a part of your time
here pondering over Hamlet’s question: “To be, or not to be.” Now it is time
for you to ask yourselves: What can I be? Congratulations once again, and best
of luck in the future. IB graduates 2007, please join me up here.
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