Good evening. Thank you very much for inviting me to join you here for your Centennial Dinner.
2. I was told that this is a Thanksgiving Dinner. So, in the spirit of thanksgiving, I want to first give thanks to all the pioneers and the founders, who started the school with conviction. It is probably a bit difficult for us to imagine how it all started. If we recall history, in 1924, the world had emerged from World War One. Towards the end of the 1920s, we headed into the Great Depression. It was a very challenging time for the whole world. In fact, many historians would argue that it was so challenging, it planted the seeds of World War Two.
3. However, despite these challenges, the founders and pioneer leaders demonstrated conviction to start a school to serve girls who, at that point in time, did not necessarily have the same opportunities for education. For that, they showed us the way, and to believe with conviction. So, my first thanks are to the pioneers and all the founding generations who started us on this journey. Today, I would also like to acknowledge some of the more senior members who are here – thank you to all of you for showing us the way with conviction.
4. My second thanks are to all the generations of leaders who have led and brought GMS through all these years with continuity, despite the changes. GMS has changed much from a school for girls, to a co-educational school to serve the boys, and to serve the broader community even beyond Geylang. But, throughout all these years, the spirit of the school remains; the family bonds, as aptly demonstrated tonight, remains. It is change with continuity. It is not easy for a school to be a hundred years old. Many of us may forget that in the last hundred years, we would have sung four different national anthems. But, through it all, GMS has managed to keep up with the changes, and yet maintain the sense of community and continuity. So, thank you to all the generations of leaders.
5. The third group that I would like to pay tribute to tonight is to all of you – the community of GMS. Because without your support, we would not be here. We would not have come so far. Your contributions, your leadership and your example would have been the best testimony and the best legacy that we can leave for our future generations. So, thank you to the GMS community for continuing to serve the school and the broader community in Singapore.
6. Now, on that note, I only have one wish for the school and the community in the next hundred years to come. It is a simple wish. I wish that you will learn from the pioneers who have shown us conviction. I wish that the school and its leaders will continue to face the challenges ahead with confidence, to manage the changes with continuity. I wish that many more generations of students who come through the gates of the school will grow up to be confident Singaporeans who will define their success not by their individual accomplishments, but by their collective contributions. That is my simple wish for the school.
7. I am confident that with the support of the community, the leadership of the school and the Church, we will get there. We will build and grow another generation, and many more generations of alumni, that will contribute to the school and the society. On that note, I wish you all the very best, and thank you for your service to the school and our nation, and may the school continue to grow from strength to strength, growing ever more generations of confident people in service of the nation.