Captains’ Corner | Vice Captain, Tom Woodrow

Once upon a time, Nick Fidler, the 2014 College Captain, gave his final address to the College. And about halfway through it, he began to cry. Tears streamed down his face as he choked on the words of his final speech. And I remember sitting there and laughing.

I could not comprehend why Nick would cry on his last day. Why anyone would be upset to graduate. I was in Year 7 and at that time, the red and black were just colours to me. This place was just somewhere I had to go every day because that’s what my parents wanted. Essentially, I thought Terrace was just a school. Yet, this could not be further from the truth.

As the years went on, my love for this school grew, and I came to realise that there is a reason why Nick Fidler cried. There is a reason why Old Boys continue to come back. And there is a reason why the Seniors of 2019 will be devastated to leave on graduation day. Because Terrace really isn’t just a school. The lyrics of that song we sung at the start of the year still hold true; it is our home. And the people here form our family. 

Yet, it is not just the people here who make this place so incredible. For me, I have always found that the best part about this school is the opportunities that it so readily provides. Opportunities which allow us to become the people that we truly want to be. At Terrace, no masks are needed. No fake lives have to be lived. And no lies have to be told because who you are will be supported and encouraged regardless.

So, before I leave, I would like to offer some advice to the fine young men who will continue upholding Terrace’s great legacy. For some of you, there are still seven years left here, but for others there may only be one. Don’t take a second here for granted because, trust me, it will all be over before you know it. Make sure you try everything, don’t just do what your friends are doing. Be unique. And if that means signing up for Theatresports, do it. If it means having a conversation with someone you don’t know, do it. And if it means playing rugby even if you are just as skinny as I am, do it. Because it is these things which you will remember and it is these things which will shape your Terrace journey.

It is a surreal feeling knowing that this will be my final Captains’ Corner and in just a few more days, the Seniors of 2019 will be graduating because it genuinely feels like just the other day that we, all young and nervous, were introduced to each other in College Hall. Yet, the reality is that it was eight years ago and although I cannot go back and relive my brilliant journey at Terrace, I am left with hundreds of memories and friends. 

I will forever be grateful for this wonderful College. The people that you meet here are some of the kindest and most caring people that this world has to offer. So, in saying this I would like to especially thank a few different people who I will forever be grateful for. 

Firstly, to my mum and dad, thank you for making the decision to send me to this great school and supporting me over these past eight years during both the good times and the bad. To my best mates, thank you for the laughs and the tears, each of you have provided me with an exceptional role model who I can model myself off. To my brilliant teachers who I have been lucky enough to learn from, especially Ms George, Ms Lightbody, Ms Ryan, Mr Rubino, Mr Giles and Mr Robba, thank you for everything you have taught me. Although you had to put up with my procrastination and constant talking in class, you have all truly inspired me and reminded me that there is always a different way to look at things.

To the Seniors who have lived All In everyday, you have all been incredible role models to both myself and the younger men of Terrace. In our eight years together, you have all shown me nothing but love and kindness and I hope we continue to keep in touch. And lastly, thank you to each member of the Terrace Family. I have always believed that it is the small things which make the greatest impact in somebody’s life. So, whether you are a Year 5 who has said hello to me in the corridors or a parent in the crowd supporting Terrace just as hard as the students, it is people like you that make this College unforgettable.

Although I may be graduating in just a few more days, I know that my Terrace journey won’t end just yet.

God Bless,
Tom Woodrow.