Today we’re revisiting Ophelia’s farewell address, a heartfelt reflection on her many years at The Mount. She expressed sincere gratitude to the school community for the countless opportunities she has been given.

Hello, my name is Ophelia. I have been a part of the Mount community for 15 years now, and it feels like time has flown by.   

During my time here the Mount has allowed me to grow, 22 inches to be precise, so not that much! But more importantly, I have grown as a person. The education I received shaped by the Quaker values of simplicity, truth, equality, peace and social justice, has had a profound impact on me, even though I didn’t realise it at the time. In Year 7, I used to dread the morning meeting silence, but now it’s something I look forward to and will miss dearly. These values have helped me become a kind, empathetic, and fair team member, shaping me into the caring and reliable person I am today.  

I would like to express my gratitude to you all today. Firstly, I would like to thank my parents for investing in my education and sending me to a great school.   

When I was six years old, I was diagnosed with dyslexia. This was one of the hardest things I have had to work with. Having dyslexia is like being ten steps behind everyone else. I have always felt like I’m playing catch-up, even to this day. But it is thanks to learning-support The Mount, that I have managed to improve my dyslexia and learned to work with it, not against it.   

Finally, I want to express my gratitude to the best of friends anyone could ask for. If you can find friends like these before your time at The Mount ends, I guarantee you will not have to worry in the future. I don’t know where I would be without you guys. You have been by my side through so much and have given me memories that I will cherish forever, I’m going to miss you all when we go off to university after the summer.  

Having been at the Mount for so long it has offered me so many opportunities that I’m convinced I would not get anywhere else, like the biannual ski trip where I have made some of my best memories with my friends in the snow and the expedition to Greenland this summer which really will be a once in a lifetime experience  

I would like to end my speech with some wise words from someone in this room this person said this to me before my A levels and it has stuck with me so now, I would like to share it with all of you “doubt whoever you want, but never yourself.”

Thank you  

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