In the words of Aristotle — "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act — it is a habit."

It is not what we are capable of — but what we are consistently choosing to become.

Edmund Rice chose. Every single day — with no map, no promise of what would endure — he built anyway. And two centuries later — here we are. His faith, still breathing.

Being conferred the title of Head Boy is not a trophy. It is a torch. And a torch is only worth carrying if you are willing to light the way for someone else.

I never envisioned chasing this badge as a crown. What I always envisioned was staying rooted in the values pressed quietly into me — humility, kindness, the virtue of choosing peace over conflict. I have tried to live by them. Today, I simply aspire to breathe them further — into every corridor, every classroom, every Columban beside me.

I have long been captivated by physics and poetry alike — because both refuse to let anything disappear. Energy transforms. Words outlive moments. And values? They live on in every choice we make. Our motto — Sapere Aude, Sincere et Constanter — is not an inscription on a wall. It is a compass. Not a promise of ease — a reminder, always, of which way is right.

And perhaps that is what makes this academic year’s theme, “Anchored in Faith and Steady in Hope,” so meaningful. As we move forward, we must never lose sight of what grounds us. Our faith is rooted in the principles and traditions that have shaped us; our hope is the courage to imagine and create what lies ahead.

To my fellow Columbans — I do not stand here to lead you. I stand here to remind you of what you already are.

So, rise. Every single one of you. Because a Columban never shrinks — a Columban soars.

This is our time. This is our school. Let us be worthy of it.

Riyansh Guglani

X-B