Valedictory Article
 
Growing up and leaving school is bittersweet. You leave behind memories, part ways with friends and teachers who have taught you everything you know, and have to make peace with the fact that you are now joining the "real'' world. On the 12th of October 2018, we formally said goodbye to our matric class of 2018 and even reminisced on memories from as far back as their Grade 4 year. 
 
We opened with singing the school song, as the Grade 12s walked through the hall, prefects carrying the South African flag, our school flag, and as well as the flags from the respective houses. Mrs Snyman then read the bible verses, and led the prayer. Thereafter, Mrs Stear made her address. In her speech, she mentioned 10 lessons for her Riebeek "daughters", which also included memories from junior school, such as Asiphile Jack and Anesipho Nono learning that there is always something you can do and succeed at in grade 4 when they didn't qualify for the mini-hockey teams and Miss Smith put them in the Elephant and Buffalo teams, which had not existed up till that point. 
 
Near the end of her speech, Mrs Stear mentioned a poem from L.R Knost that was a beautiful piece of advice for our matrics: "Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break and all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. Do go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is within you." Next was Sinovuyo Madlavu with her Head Girl address. Her speech was incredibly creative and heartwarming, comparing her school career to a jigsaw puzzle been built over the years as she progress through junior and high school. 
 
The Head Girl speeches made at Valedictory are always a favourite of the girls, as junior school moments are always brought up, no matter how embarrassing they may be. Just a few mentioned were always bursting out into song when Mrs Metcalf left the class, playing dodgeball at breaks in grade 7, and making Miss De Beer think there was an extra learner in the class named Asanda, but only when signing demerits were involved. After Sinovuyo's speech, it was time for the Grade 11s to sing their farewell song. This definitely brought some tears, but soon came the exciting part: the chance for each matric to ring the Ceremonial Bell in the foyer and walk through tunnel, formed by the rest of the school, from the office to the front gate of the school. As the the Class of 2018, walked off the stage, each girl wore a pair on sunglasses, and looked effortlessly cool and confidant. Although it was raining outside, this did stop the rest of the girls from forming the tunnel outside and saying goodbye to our fellow Riebeek sisters and role models. 
 
To the Class of 2018, no matter what you decide to do on your journey of life, shine bright, succeed in whatever you do, and never forget, once a Riebeek girl, always a Riebeek girl.