In some cases parents make huge sacrifices-it is inevitable that they have high expectations of the end result. Equally the students must realize that when you leave home your parents are faced with managing a major change in their lives-you must also change your style of parent management to avoid adding to what is a very stressful life they lead in this day and age. Your children are entering a new phase in their lives and your management styles may have to change. When they are in such a situation they must feel comfortable to speak to either parent openly and in a timely manner. I believe it is of utmost importance that when your child leaves home that you accept that amongst many success stories they may face challenges-some within their control and some outside their control. They are like our friends and we enjoy our time together on the golf course, on holidays, and I am fortunate that our relationship is no longer a one way parent to child relationship. I have three grown up children who graduated from British universities and are now successful professionals in the UK and Spain. Parents may not always be right in what they say to you-but believe me whatever every parent says or does is because they genuinely believe that it is in the best interests of their children. From my own experience as a student, I was excited leaving school however as a parent, I recall the anxiety and the worry I went through when my children were off to university. This will require emotional adjustment for both parent and child. The students started as children and are leaving as adults they will be in totally different environments with new friends, they will be subject to new peer pressures, parents have to accept that their children will not be under one roof with them and may end up a few thousand miles away from home. Your parents have made many sacrifices in the last few years and provided you with the enabling environment at home, financial, and moral support, to help you through this phase. Teachers have done their utmost to help you by encouraging and motivating you to perform at optimum and achieve the end result. The teachers (and I have the highest respect for the teaching profession built over many years as a student, parent and past honorary Chairman of Aga Khan schools in both Nairobi and Mombasa). The students have worked hard with focus, determination and discipline. It is a very proud moment for the graduates, parents and teachers who have all played their part in the end result. Graduation is a time of celebration and triumph and marks the end of one phase and beginning of the next phase. I hope that in the future I can claim to have been the Chief Guest at the graduation of the future Jack Welch, Wangari Mathai, Meg Whitman, Lakshmi Mittal or a future Head of State!!!
Provided you build on these strengths from here on, I am confident that your future in the real world is secure! Many business leaders strive to build such qualities with mixed success. Mr Otieno shared your feedback on the Class of year 2013-and I was most impressed with the way you describe the class-awesome great team that made things happen fun loving overachievers motivators different and from diverse backgrounds but gelled brilliantly as a team innovators. May I take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation to Simon Otieno and Salim Bhatia for the invitation to this morning’s event. I feel honored and privileged to have been asked to be the Chief Guest at the graduation ceremony of this excellent institution-I was fortunate to witness the unique features of the Academies program yesterday morning, and I have great admiration for the emphasis the Academy places on life-long learning and development, positive engagement with the community, developing leadership skills qualities that will positively impact your communities, your country and the world at large.
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