As St John’s College settles into the rhythm of the new term, the addresses delivered at assembly by our Executive Headmaster and Head of School offer complementary perspectives on what it means to thrive in our community. Stuart West’s call to embrace the “voice of possibility” and Siza Gule’s reflections on family, growth, and belonging capture the spirit of the Michaelmas term.
At the start of this new term, I want to speak to you about something that sits at the very heart of your journey here at St John's. It's not just about your marks and exam results, the teams you play in, or the activities you take part in. It's about something deeper, something that shapes the whole direction of your life.
I call it the voice of possibility.
Every one of you has heard it. It's that quiet but persistent voice inside that asks: What if…?
What if I tried? What if I changed? What if I dared? What if I were courageous?
This is the voice that calls you toward your true potential. But it is not the only voice you'll hear. You'll also hear voices of doubt, fear, and conformity. The real challenge of your SJC education, and your life, is learning which voice to follow.
Let me share three stories that bring this to life.
The Prodigal Son. We often think of this as a story about forgiveness. But look closer—it's about a young man who woke one day in despair and said: "What if I went home? What if my father forgave me? What if I changed the direction of my life?" That single "what if" moment changed everything. Instead of despair, he chose possibility.
A Personal Story. When I was a young teacher, I never imagined myself as a Headmaster. Then my mentor said: "I think you have what it takes to lead a school." That sentence was the voice of possibility—spoken through someone else. Sometimes the voice comes from someone who sees something in you that you cannot yet see in yourself.
Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan woman, noticed the destruction of forests in her country and asked, "What if I planted trees?" That small act grew into the Green Belt Movement with 50 million trees planted, 200 000 women empowered, and a Nobel Peace Prize. Her single "What if?" rippled outward to change communities, her nation, and the world.
When you listen to the voice of possibility, extraordinary things happen. You only get one life. Your voice of possibility is a lifetime gift. Every day, you will have to choose which voice to listen to.
Enjoy your Michaelmas Term and follow your voice of possibility! — Extract from Stuart West, Executive Headmaster's address
Three weeks have passed since we last saw each other, a period of relaxation being a great need for many of us. But now we're back.
This past Sunday, I reflected on my father's message to our church in Diepkloof about the importance of fellowship and family. My father, like my mother, spent many years seeking job opportunities to better provide for his family. Through endless perseverance to do better for his family, his sense of appreciation for community could not be more exemplified. His story echoes what Kenneth Lawson expresses in Venture of Faith: "What is it about St John's that pulls on the heartstrings of those of us who have been a part of it? Isn't it that we felt that we were members not merely of a school–an institution– but of a closely knit and very lively family."
Families grow with one another. When I first came to St John's in Remove, I knew no one but Alex Scharneck and Warona, whom I had met at a scholarship camp in Grade 6. The prospect of being introduced to more than 150 new faces left an overwhelming feeling of doubt and anxiety that I wouldn't fit in. Over the past five years, those men who sit at the back have transformed who I am today.
The process of growth isn't linear; it's filled with arguments and moments of resentment. Recently, the prefect body and I had a storming session, in which I had been an unkind leader to them. The group of 14 left an impression on me to evolve into being more compassionate and understanding. Within this process of growth is forgiveness – as Scripture commands in Colossians 3:13, we ought to forgive as God has forgiven us.
Families inspire one another. This family has demonstrated exceptional abilities: Alec achieving 100 caps for the 1st Cricket side, Rudolph's clean sweep in academic subject prizes, and Boris's strategic intelligence in every debating speech. But it's witnessing the dedication every choir member embodied in their rendition of Vivaldi's Gloria, the unquestionable love that Mrs Kampmann has for our English class, Mr Huysamer's longstanding service to St John's, or even Leruo's cheerful and hearty laugh that brightens up one's day (even though sometimes he's laughing at you and not with you). As my dad put it in isiZulu: kuyakhuthazwa – we encourage one another.
In a family, we find our place to serve. This, I stole directly out of my dad's mouth. There's something unique in each of us that we can utilise to serve the school. That spirit of giving your time to something greater than yourself is immensely rewarding.
Our family transcends physical boundaries to include the spirits of Sonwabo, Jake and Nathan and the many other brothers and sisters we have lost. We carry the vision of Fr Nash, the discipline of Fr Hill, the perseverance of Rev. Carter, and the determination of Rev Clarke across 127 years of history.
Family, I wish you all the most prosperous term ahead, filled with God's love and joy. — Extract from Siza Gule, Head of School's address