Twenty Years On—These Words of Wisdom from Alumni Jeremy Smith still ring true

Forty years ago Jeremy Smith was the first Head Boy at the newly amalgamated Glenlyon Norfolk School in 1986-87. Twenty years ago he reminisced about that year and much of what he said reflects and likely still rings true for the young people graduating in a few weeks time.

Jeremy attended Glenlyon School from 1981-85, “graduating” from Grade 10. Glenlyon only went to Grade 10 at that time and so leavers at that level “graduated” to another school to graduate. Upon the amalgamation of Glenlyon and Norfolk House in 1986, Keith Walker used his persuasive powers to invite Jeremy back to GNS for his Grade 12 year, become Head Boy and graduate on his ‘home turf’.

This is a transcription of Jeremy’s comments that appeared in the Winter 2005 edition of Traditions magazine.

Did GNS prepare you for your future? “GNS provided an excellent, well-rounded academic education, and that has definitely been of benefit. It also provided non-academic education that has been equally important. I remember Keith Walker holding a special assembly and having every boy practice receiving a prize in advance of prize giving—firmly shaking hands, looking him in the eye, and saying “thank you sir.” That kind of training was just as important as the academic curriculum. I think I’ve also been able to adopt and apply with some success what seemed to be a prevailing philosophy at GNS during the time I attended—that your success doesn’t have to come at the expense of someone else’s. The sign above the door in the Beach Drive office said, Success is Making the Other Fellow Great. In my mind, that attitude is what sets GNS apart more than anything else.”

Favourite subjects? “I always enjoyed English and History. I had amazing teachers in those subjects: John Humphries, John Crawford, Steve Johnson, Roger Doney, and others. These were all people with real passion for teaching and for their subject areas.” 

Academics aside, did the school help you move forward in other ways? “GNS took a wonderfully broad approach to education, and I’m grateful for the variety of opportunities I had—from becoming a comfortable public speaker with Jim de Goede’s debating team, to learning effective teamwork by playing a variety of sports. The School also provided me with opportunities to develop social awareness and responsibility, from cultural exchanges to volunteering at Oak Bay Lodge. I was glad that I was only 15 when I started Grade 12, because it allowed me to play on the Under 16 basketball team with all the guys from Grade 10—there weren’t many of us, but we weren’t bad, and we had a blast.”

Fondest memory? “My entire Grade 12 year—I can’t narrow it down any more than that. The incomparably persuasive Keith Walker invited me to be a part of the first year of the new school, offering me the vaunted position of “Head Boy.” I didn’t know at the time that I would be the only boy in Grade 12, but whatever, I’ll take it. I remember being nearly incontinent with fear looking out at a sea of girls punctuated by a small island of boys during the first school assembly. But everyone—especially my amazing classmates in Grade 12 and that tight group of guys—was so kind and welcoming that before long, I stopped wearing diapers to assembly. Really, I look back on the whole experience as having been an incredible opportunity to make a real contribution to a new and exciting endeavour.”

A humorous moment? “There were too many to relate—I was kept very humble in my senior year by a combination of the unique circumstance and my own proclivity to embarrass myself. One thing that seemed to amuse people was that I supervised the Grade 2 girls during their lunch one day a week, and we’d sing rugby club songs together while they ate. My resulting popularity with the younger set eventually resulted in my having to do this sort of Beatles-esque dash across the school yard at break times to avoid the pursuing throngs of Grade 2 girls in tunics, grabbing at and stretching my sweater out to the size of a muumuu. Oddly, that experience didn’t do as much to prepare me for future life as I would have hoped.”

Has it meant anything to you as an alumnus? “I really value having gone to GNS. That’s one reason I stayed involved with the school through coaching, working with the alumni association, and serving on the editorial committee of this magazine.” 

What advice would you give a graduating student? “When deciding on the kind of life you want, try to achieve a good balance. Also, having played a bit of rugby, I guess I would use this analogy, something like, ‘run hard and straight, keep two hands on the ball, and keep your head up.’ ”

Well said Jeremy and in their own way, may our young graduates leave with good memories and at a later time reflect with an equally fitting analogy!