Celebrating 2nd formers joining the College Brotherhood & Focusing on Character

To begin, we will as has become tradition, hold a special ceremony that recognises the end of Borver Week for the young men, presently gathered over on the Forder Oval, who in time will eventually make up the 6^th Form Class of 2025, and their formal “graduation” today into “College boys” or fellow “Collegians”.

It is my pleasure today, then, to announce the formal end of the seventh Borver Week.

For those of you who do not know, or perhaps have forgotten, Borver Week was instituted in 2015 so that ALL new 2^nd Formers together underwent a rite of passage that saw them let go of their primary school allegiances and embrace their new alma mater, Maritzburg College.

This year’s Borver Week will end with the 2^nd Formers together taking the “College Credo” – the vow or pledge that all College boys took last year, to live out the values that underpin our school. That “Credo” forms a vital part of the document titled #CollegeCulture that I know that Beauclerk and his fellow prefects will be discussing with you over the next two weeks.

Not only did the 260 borvers of 2021 over the last week undergo an orientation of their new school and have to hand in their 2^nd Form College ties, but they also all slept together in the boarding houses, learnt College’s war-cries, and learnt about the school’s system of privileges and traditions, and its hierarchical structure that will see them only after the passage of time earn their stripes as College boys.

Ten days ago, on Saturday morning at 04h20, they commenced a gruelling “Vietnam”, which they finished over two hours later, wet, muddied, exhausted, but ultimately triumphant.

Eleven days ago they arrived as mere “borvers” – or “low-class fellows”, to use the actual College definition from over 100 years ago – but today, finally, they are able to call themselves College boys or “Collegians” and they have earned the right to wear their 2^nd Form ties.

We all appreciate that they are still juniors at the school – but, today, you College boys can welcome them as the junior members of your great College brotherhood.

They will now come down from Barns’ IN TOTAL SILENCE PLEASE, I will address them, and then we all then welcome them as fellow College boys and Collegians.

And, gentlemen, let’s all give them a suitable welcome.

Second Formers of 2021, today sees the end of Borver Week, and today you can all finally call yourselves College boys and “Collegians”.

You have struggled together through Vietnam and over the last 11 days learned more about this great school, which is one of the oldest and proudest in the country.

Now raise your right hands and together take the “College Credo”, which is a sacred pledge to live out the values of a Collegian of this old and noble school.

I ask you now, in front of the entire school:

“Do you, as a scholar at Maritzburg College, vow –
- To live out the Core Values of the school and its #CollegeCulture.
- To always remain loyal and true to your school and your “band of brothers”.
- To live out the school’s Core Traditions of –
A College boy is loyal to his family, his friends, his school and his country.
A College boy does not lie, steal or cheat.
A College boy thinks of others first.
A College boy always gives of his best and never gives up.
A College boy is respectful to and of others.
O A College boy always owns up.
O A College boy is always immaculately turned out and displays good manners at all times.

[2^nd Form boys reply, “WE DO!”]

Welcome to the brotherhood of Maritzburg College.

Thank you once again to Messrs Sparrow, Sutherland, Marwick, Kyle and other staff, prefects and house leaders for their collective efforts over the past week

Theme: Character

A number of you have displayed great character over the past week – I think of the 2^nd Formers going through their Borver Week programme which included a gruelling two hour Vietnam and the character shown by many of you over the past year due to the impact of Covid . Thank you Well done!

For those of you possibly feeling disheartened by the years’ work ahead, there is some encouraging news. It is now thought that only a third of the difference between grades can be attributed to IQ. Once you are in the workforce, IQ will account for only 25% of the difference between your job performance and that of others. So the intelligence you were born with is important, but there are other key factors that will help you succeed no matter what your IQ. The essential ingredient appears to be determination and grit.

Mozart worked for months perfecting a symphony and a poet often can write as many as 70 drafts before deciding that one poem is good enough. Malcolm Gladwell researched that it takes 10 000 hours of practise to achieve mastery in a skill.

Research study has indicated that students who are praised for their intelligence give up quickly when they experience failure, while students praised for their effort keep on trying to succeed even when they find it hard.

The winning difference appears to be a mixture of motivation, perserverance and character – a determination to succeed. How can you show your character at College?

Make use of the opportunities at College and attempt as many academic, sporting and cultural pursuits as possible, because that is how you will find out what you really love doing. Passion for a subject, sport or cultural activity is the greatest motivator of all.
Give everything your best shot but accept that you cannot be good at everything. They say it takes 10 years to become successful in any one field.
Accept constructive criticism as the way to make yourself better at what you are attempting. Become your own coach and be tough on yourself. Confucius teaches that perfection can be reached through practice and effort.
Understand that it is effort that truly makes the difference. Perserverance and hard work will guarantee success.
Take on challenges. Everyone who succeeds puts in hours of work. The harder they work the more they succeed.
Learn from your failures. Thomas Edison, one of the greatest inventors said,’ Most of life’s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.’ He also said success is 1% brilliance and 99% perspiration.
Be optimistic. Set your goals and believe you will achieve them.

Finally remember the 10 year rule: At the end of the next ten years, where are you going to be? What will you be good at? What will you have accomplished?

Thought for the Week

“The basic human values of truth, courage, kindness and manliness, for which the school has stood, will be just as important in the future as they have been in the past, …”

Extract from a quotation by RE Fuller, Headmaster 1954-1965

Pro Aris et Focis

CL Luman, Headmaster