Greetings fellow Strength of St Mark's College! My name is Kagiso Maloma, the current Chairperson of the Strength of St Mark’s from the Class of 2007. While it is impossible to know all of you – whether personally or from the distance – I do feel a certain sense of familiarity with you due to our shared history as products of the school. Together, we have walked the hallowed halls of this remarkable institution, with its life-changing values instilled in each and every one of us as we went along acquiring what we believed to be the best education money can buy. Whatever experience or experiences you might have, they sure did leave an indelible imprint in all of us, mostly positive, I hope.
For many of us, St Mark's College remained a place of endless possibilities, where we had the courage to dream big and strive for greatness wherever we may find ourselves in the world. Our time there equipped us with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to know that we can be anything that we want to be. It is within the confines of this prestigious school that I was mentored by both staff and fellow pupils to have the confidence to take up any leadership mantle thrown my way with a sense of responsibility and the understanding that the ‘student’ body forms an integral part in the continued success of this special school. The spill-over benefits of those who came before us sure had a lasting presence in the memory of the school long after your departure, becoming not only part of the school’s oral traditions, but very much a part and parcel of the school’s unique DNA.
As most of you would be aware, the magic that both you and I had the privilege of being enlightened with at the school (which is obviously varied as the school went through a series of setbacks over the years) has been at risk for some time. As the Alumni/Strength of St Mark’s, we have been looking at ways to make sure the magic does not die out, and that it continues for years to come. As the current sitting Exco we have outlined our vision, mission, and objectives. As the Strength we remain the pillars of this institution granted its remarkable history continuing in the quest to instil back the powerful values that made our St Mark’s a true beacon of light in a rather dreary place. No doubt if there's anyone capable of reigniting the daring and maverick spirit of holistic brilliance, it should be us.
As we set out to revitalize the school's illustrious tradition of excellence, we extend a warm invitation to you to join us in an effort to rebuild our school and ensure that we keep generating tomorrow's leaders, for which many of you are living example.
I leave you with this quote, which captures my most unstinting belief about the future direction of our school: "[t]he success of any school can be measured by the contribution of its alumni". Indeed, its future is in our hands.
Thank you.
Kagiso Maloma (Class of 2007)