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TITLE: WHEN YOU DRINK THE WATER, REMEMBER THOSE WHO DUG THE WELL.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to be be associated with this most important
occasion when we hold our first reunion away from the Saints Cafeteria.
It is a great honor for me to be asked to make a speech during the dinner
and I sincerely thank the organizers for this honor.
I consider this occasion to signify the way to go in future. In several reunions held in the school compound, we have missed the contribution of some important people who are Saints damu and would have loved to be there but the geographical distance proved to be a prohibitive barrier. I am convinced that if we hold mini-reunions in other locations, we are bound to have a far greater contribution, and involve far more alumni for the future of what I still consider to be the most wonderful institution on earth. I believe that there is so much we can all do singly and collectively for our Almer Mater regardless of our Geographical location. After all, most of us are sitting here tonight largely because of our appreciation of what we got from that wonderful institution. Remember that old saying in the school that 'when the mountain refused to go to Moses, Moses went to the mountain'. I am therefore very proud of both Ken Kamuyu of the fourth form class of 90 and Eric Njoroge of the fourth form class of '95 class for this initiative. We do hope that it will turn out fruitful and be a precipitant to many many more in other parts of the world. I always knew my boys would do it!
I have been in this huge country for five years now teaching IB geography in Atlanta. I have traveled to several parts of the country - to big cities, small towns and some relatively remote areas. Actually, it is only last month that I was here in LA. I have always felt very proud to note that in virtually every single part of this country, you can find a 'Saint'. I am only falling short of naming people I have met in areas you would otherwise consider uninhabitable to human species. Many of our graduates are doing great things and do hold very responsible positions in very respected firms in this country. Others like Eric Wainaina are sending shock waves in the music scene. Others are great businessmen and I know there are several of the Warugongos of New Jersey running trucks and Lincoln Mbogos of Alabama running Gas stations. There are unaccountable professional people in Financial fields like banking, IT related fields, Medical fields, Legal and other related fields and actually you may not believe this but we do have quite a few professors around. I am proud of the rare achievements of the likes of Hazel Gachoka, Martin Mugambi, Phillip Musyimi, Fred Okiyo, Jean Gachoya and many many more more in all corners of this country. Yes, we are indeed very proud of these ladies and gentlemen who have excelled in their many fields in which they have specialized in. I do not know of any institution in the world that can pride itself of the contribution its graduates have made more than Saint Mary's, Nairobi. Our people are spread out far and wide and that is as it should be. Though I put this on a light touch, even on the home front in jamhuri, I am almost sensing that the next president will be a Saint and why not?
Last year, when I took a group of students from Atlanta to Kenya, we visited Saints for two days and the visitors were deeply humbled by what they saw and heard about the school. It was totally different from what they had always thought about schools in Africa. I was one proud human being. On the other hand, we do have several people who are struggling to make it in different fields - no names here. I do request those who have made it to assist those who are struggling to make it. Remember we all went through the same GJ or Gannon or Diangman (oh! that man...) or Moloney or if you are in the more recent IB classes you must have tasted the wrath of Williams and Kimweli .......This is getting risky but Mr. Vinayak! Networking is not corruption. Helping those associated with you is not an 'ism'. We should not be shy to help those who are related to us in one way or another. Remember, that it does not matter when you were there. It is all part of the Bonitas , which is an integral part of the school motto. We must support one another. I do believe that you must have realized that the life in this country can quite often be very stressful. We need each other always. And remember that I am also available for this. Call me when you need me and I will be there for you. This I consider to be a most important reason of my being in this country. A kind of 'Saints ambassador' - there is a nice ring around that title.
However, always remember that the measure of any success is not in how much money one has made, the car you are driving, the house you live in etc. Yes, some money is important for survival anywhere but it is is too weak a parameter to use in our definition of success. We have far better yardsticks to measure our success - more important simply being a good person. Remember that always. If you are in a business, remember that surrounding yourself with Saints people is surrounding yourself with goodness at its best. This turns me to my next point; something I have briefly touched on earlier.
I still believe that Saint Mary's is the best institution the whole wide world. Whereas that can easily be taken to be wishful thinking and arrogant self-aggrandizement, I do have practical examples to support my arguments. The success of the current students in all aspects of school life, the way the graduates have settled in the different parts of the world, the discipline of our graduates all remind me of that important school motto of Bonitas, Disciplina, Scientia and for those who have forgotten like... this simply means goodness, discipline and knowledge. These are virtues we must live with wherever we are in this wide world. We are living in a difficult world - one shrouded by terrorists big and small. We must at all times keep off the likes of Osama Bin Laden. Surround yourself with good people at all times. That is what we taught you, that is who you are. A product of a great institution. A product of goodness itself. Keep going guys. I do hope to be there in the next reunion held in this country. I will abide by the resolutions which you pass in this auspicious occasion. I do believe that there is so much we can do for our wonderful school to ensure that it remains where it belongs - right on top. Let us discuss these issues carefully while we are here and even after we leave to our various destinations.
Have fun and have it abundantly. I would request that in the midst of the partying you do take time to discuss serious issues . Issues that will be benefit the current members of our wonderful institution now and in future. As you drink the water, remember those who dug the well. And for many of you, very many people in Saints really did the digging of your wells. And that is why you are here now literally and figuratively, drinking that water.
Thank you for taking time to be part of this gathering. We are so proud of each one of you. Remember that once a Saint, always one.
Let me end this on a light touch by cautioning you to remember to take good care of yourselves - and for each other. Remember that LAPD is on the lookout. One place I would not want you to come all the way to discover is how good the jails of this city of Angels are.
God bless you all.
Peter Ndiang'ui
Former Dean of Form six (1987 - 1989) and
Dean of form six (1991 - 1997)