Kathleen’s Talk
at the Summerfest Community Meeting of 20 June 2009

When I thought about what I wanted to say here today the only thing that came to me was: Thank you. Merci vielmal. Vielen vielen Dank.

Thank you for giving me this extraordinary opportunity to grow. In every way. I did not knowingly ask or apply for this position and I did not always carry out the task with joy, but I am absolutely certain that it has been the right task and challenge for me. I would not have chosen it because no one in their right mind would. One has to be a little out of one’s mind to take on this job, but that is how the soul grows and oh, what a journey.

With all the challenges it has brought, my heart and soul have grown in ways I could never have envisioned and would not have consciously chosen. And that is an enormous gift which all of you – and you represent all the parents, students, helpers and colleagues I have known – have given to me in your ultimate wisdom and generosity.

For 11 of these 14 years KC stood here at my side. With all my brutally honest students, extraordinarily dedicated colleagues, a series of very helpful Helpers, and dear trusting parents (many of whom from all of these groups have become close friends) and perhaps especially my colleagues in the Leitung, we have been on quite a journey together and I could hardly have wished for more loyal and true companions.

I have been confronted with my many mistakes, and forgiven, helped to my feet again, and have carried on. I was often brought to the very edge of what I believed was possible, at times pushed to the edge of the cliff, and then jumped because I hardly had another choice, only to discover that… I could fly... or you all caught me.

So I stand here now and hand this key to Ashley and wish him a journey as rich, and I can only say thank you.

Thank you.