Good morning Lieutenant Colonel Bowman, Dr. Harley, Board Members, honoured guests, dedicated faculty, loving families, and most importantly, students.  I am Warrant Officer Bob Dhillon, Head Boy of Robert Land Academy, and I stand here today to address you on behalf of the graduating class of the Academy.  Today presents a milestone moment in our lives.  We all come from different corners of the world yet share a common sense of pride in this accomplishment – graduating high school.

I speak on behalf of the 17 graduates of 2007 when I say Robert Land Academy has opened several doors that otherwise would have remained closed.  Prior to arriving at the Academy, graduating high school was something that several of us did not see as achievable nor valuable, at times seemingly insurmountable.  Many of us had no vision of our futures or how we would get there.  Robert Land Academy provides each of us this unique opportunity to succeed.

Upon arriving here, we are given a chance at a new start in life.  Our past failures are forgotten and the focus is shifted to our futures.  Recruit course training and the 90 kilometre Fall Exercise represent the first barriers to our success.  We quickly learn, some quicker than others, that if we choose to overcome these obstacles and push ourselves beyond our perceived limits, success will be ours.

Robert Land Academy is unique in several aspects.  Not only do we live, learn, and study together, but we also become a family.  We learn to work as a team towards a common goal, support one another through times of adversity, and share our success and failures.  As a family, we accomplish more than we ever perceived possible as individuals and that enables us to realize our potential.  An example of this is preparing for morning inspections.  Not only does it require a great deal of self-discipline and perseverance, but it is also a challenge that we overcome each day.  A successful inspection brings privileges and a sense of pride, while failing allows us to look back on our efforts and seek self-improvement.  Each day spent at Robert Land Academy is another opportunity to build on our character. These lessons that are reinforced around the Academy are ones that prove beneficial in our development of morals and values.

One of the greatest experiences at the Academy is being given the opportunity to counsel and support other students with their concerns.  As student leaders, we are taught to lead by example.  In positions of authority, we learn that our actions reflect our values and that our peers and subordinates judge who we are from the manner in which we act.  The goal of the Academy, “to build good citizens for the future,” is truly one that we should all take to heart.  Not only do we learn the lessons that allow us to excel at the Academy, but the skills we learn here are applicable to the world around us.  With the values of HONOUR, LOYALTY, LABOUR, COMMITMENT, and COURAGE, we can all do our part in creating better families, better communities, and ultimately, a better world.

Having arrived at this point in my life, I would naturally like to thank the faculty of Robert Land Academy that have supported me in this endeavour of self-improvement and academic excellence.  All the teachers deserve an equal amount of recognition for their efforts as they often stay behind long hours to help us finish our assignments.  In particular, Captain Doig, my Company Commander for the past three years, has been like a father away from home.  He has always been available to offer his advice and has constantly supported me with my concerns.  I also wish to thank ASM Zahra and Captain Milliken for their consistent motivation and always keeping me on track.  Major Lyttle and Captain Erola, it was a great experience taking part in the Army Cadet programme at the Academy.  Your dedication to the Corps is remarkable and your invaluable lessons will never be forgotten.  Thank you DSM Robinson for getting me through the scuba course.  CSM Vickers, CSM Bolton and Lt. Evans, you have all played a significant role in my life and have consistently given up your time to support me.  Even through the rough times, the Academy staff members have always been there to offer their guidance.  My fellow Senior NCOs, WO Chung, WO Latendorf, and WO Bissett, this past year has been a great experience in my life and I can’t go without thanking you for being part of it.  It has been a pleasure to serve the Academy as Head Boy and I hope that the future NCOs continue to emulate only the highest standards of deportment.

Today is not only a day for the graduates to celebrate this achievement in our lives, it is an opportunity to look ahead to the future and to appreciate all that the Academy has done for us, not only academically, but in all aspects of life to get us to where we are now.  It is an opportunity to thank our families for always remaining supportive of us, whether we appreciated it at the time or not.  If there is one person I wish to thank more than anyone else, it is my mother.  Thank you Mom for the warm meals you would cook when I came home on leave, for making the two hour drives to see me if only for two minutes, for forcing me back to the Academy each stand-down even when I felt like giving up, and for sacrificing so much in your life to make sure that I have the chance to succeed in my life.  Today is for you and I hope I have made you proud.

Many cadets may perceive today as an end.  Louis L’Amour, an American writer, once wrote:  “There will come a time when you believe everything is finished.  That will be the beginning.”  Today is that time.  I thank you Colonel Bowman for this opportunity to speak on behalf of the student body or Robert Land Academy and good luck to all the graduates in their future endeavours.