Embrace Your Values to Find Your Purpose
Since I returned to campus, I’ve had about two dozen people come up to me and ask, “Jackson… When’s the big speech?” But the first person to mention this speech was Mr. Torontali. You see, Mr. T. and I have a unique relationship. Basically, every day for the past three years, we’ve walked past each other in the halls; each time, I nod my head and greet him with “Sir,” and he responds with a casual “Hi,” all while we keep up our walking pace. At the start of this year, however, Mr. Torontali stopped. He looked me dead in the eyes, and he said, “Jackson, I know you have this speech coming up. Whatever you do, speak from the heart.”
So that’s what I’m going to try to do today. The reality is that nobody wants—and they definitely don’t need—a lecture from a 17-year-old. The best I can do is “speak from the heart” and share some of the things that I’m still learning, in the hopes that we can learn together.
When I started my Crescent journey, I was terrified that I wouldn’t fit in, that I’d be forced into a mold. I was worried about finding my place at an all-boys school, about living up to expectations—some that others had for me, and some that I had for myself. But as I stand here today, I can tell you that my favourite thing about Crescent is that it’s not a place where you are told who to be; it’s a place where you learn who you are, appreciated and supported by the family of young men and adults around you.
But that journey of self-discovery doesn’t happen overnight. It happens in the small moments, when you start to realize what matters most to you. It might be in a conversation with a friend, a lesson from a teacher, a mentor group where you find out about the hidden connections between modern-day rap and Shakespeare, a pep talk with your team on the bench after getting smoked 7–0 in a soccer game, or in those quiet moments when you’re alone with your thoughts. Along the way, you begin to understand your values—the things that guide your choices, shape your identity, and define the kind of man you’ll be.
One of the most valuable lessons that I’ve learned so far during my time here, is that it’s okay not to have everything figured out. Finding your purpose isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about embracing your values—whatever they may be—and letting them show the way to what matters to you, one step at a time. Whether it’s honesty, respect, responsibility, compassion, creativity, adventure, curiosity, humour—whatever is important to you—your values are what will shape your path. And as you embrace them, little by little, you’ll start to discover who you are and what you stand for.
It’s natural to feel lost when you’re surrounded by big questions about the future: what university you’ll go to, what career you’ll pursue, or how you’ll measure up to the people around you. But what I’ve started to realize is that the answers to those questions don’t come all at once. They come gradually, from living out your values in every moment, from the almost imperceptible decisions that make you who you are.
This year at Crescent, there’s construction happening all around us, and I’m not just talking about the renovations. If you think about it, each of us is under construction, too. There’s the obvious stuff, like figuring out where we’re going to sit at lunch and how we’re going to pass our exams. But there’s also the deeper changes—the construction that happens within. The small choices we make every day that shape who we’re becoming.
And here’s the thing: you shouldn’t rush that process. You don’t have to have everything mapped out by next week, next month, or even next year—nobody here, not even the adults in the room, can say with certainty how they’ll change over the next nine months of classes. What matters is that you focus on embracing your values—the things that matter most to you—and trust that they will help you find your purpose. It’s a gradual process, and sometimes it feels messy, but that’s the point. Like the construction of the soon-to-be Community Hall, meaningful growth doesn’t happen overnight, and certainly not without a few water pipes bursting. It happens every day, in the tiniest of moments, when you live according to your values.
With that in mind, I’m excited to share this year’s Prefect motto: “Embrace your Values to Find Your Purpose.” It’s about taking the time to discover who you are and what you stand for, and letting your moral compass guide you towards the man you will become.
My fellow grads, we are entering what may well be the busiest year of our lives so far, and we’ll all be asking important questions: What program should I apply to? How do I get into that university? If I drop a 60% on my last exam, can I maintain my acceptance? But before we get overwhelmed by what lies ahead, let’s remember that we only need to figure it out one step at a time. We don’t need to have all the answers right now. What we need to do is live by our values, and trust that the rest will follow.
To my younger brothers in Grade 3, you have 10 years—and the rest of your lives—to try new things, to meet new people, to make mistakes, to start figuring out who you are and what your legacy will be. I want you to see the network of brothers you have sitting behind you to lean on.
To all of my Crescent Brothers, look around. This is your family. You’re not walking your path alone—you’re walking it alongside each other, each of you figuring it out, step-by-step.
When things feel overwhelming, when the big picture seems scary or bleak, remember: it’s not about figuring it all out at once. It’s about embracing who you are today, and letting that guide you to where you’re meant to be. The little steps you take right now—let those carry you forward.
So this year, throughout your Crescent journey, and as you spend the rest of your life figuring yourself out, remember: Embrace your values to find your purpose. There has never been a greater need.
