Greetings, I am Shiven Widhani from Grade 12. I am truly honoured to be the Head Boy of Lancers International School. I promise that I will pour my heart and soul into fulfilling the expectations and responsibilities that come with it. To all my student council members, being a leader is much more than standing on a pedestal and receiving recognition. It is the work behind the scenes which actually makes you a leader. When school starts, you will have to stand checking uniforms and fulfill responsibilities while your peers may be enjoying, but that is what makes a leader. Someone who is not scared to sacrifice leisure, for the personal development and to fulfill the responsibilities that come with your badge, for the school. When I came to this school, like any other student, I was anxious yet excited. In my first few days, my teachers, my peers and my seniors helped me incorporate seamlessly into the school in a way I had never imagined. Reflecting back on these moments, I can positively say that I now feel like this school, the teachers and my classmates, are no less than family to me.

I would like to thank the head of school, Mr Yogesh Sindhwani, for the unparalleled support along with the trust he has shown in me by bestowing me with this honour of being the head boy. Thank you Sir, for always being there for the students.

I've had moments when I've called teachers at 11 at night asking for help, and they have been there for me, always. So I just wanted to say thank you to all of you.

I would like to share a quote with all of you, I am sure all of you must have heard this quote as it is there in every email Ms. Ashita sends us, it says 'Knowing Is Not Enough; We Must Apply. Wishing Is Not Enough; We Must Do'. Remember this quote throughout your journey in the student council. All of you will have ideas, all of you will wish to have the recognition you deserve but in order to reach your destination, you must apply and implement your thoughts and make them come to life.

Remember that from this day forward, you are the first among the equals. The entire student body from PYP to DP will look up to you, acknowledge their expectations, be their representative. Remember that by giving you this badge and position, the school has seen potential in you, they have seen valour in you, keep it alive.

If I have been given the opportunity to become your leader, I think it is time that I give some individuals the recognition they truly deserve, without whom, I would not have been on this platform speaking to you.

I would like to say thank you to the former head boy, Alexanandro Skronias, whom I saw last year at the investiture ceremony, giving his speech. At that moment, I thought to myself 'that has to be me next year' and I am really proud that I am getting to make that dream come to reality at this present moment.

I would also like to say thank you to the teachers for the undivided attention they have given me regarding all things related to my academic and co-curricular life. And lastly, I have to say thank you to the most important people in my life, my parents, My mother has been my pillar throughout my life and my father has been my inspiration. From day one, my parents have been there for me, through success and failure. If I am here standing on this platform addressing you, it is because of their influence in shaping me as a leader, so thank you so much.

With this I would like to end my address by saying that we are the council now, we are the ones who are representatives of the student body, let us make sure that we live up to the honour which the school has given us and become the epitome of leaders.

Thank you.

Greetings, I am Annie Liu from Grade 12.  As a Lancerian, I am honoured to be elected as the head girl in our beloved school, a role with great responsibility and positivity. I would like to thank all the teachers and students who made me feel welcomed in our cosy Lancers family despite being a newcomer and a foreigner. All of you have given me warmth and confidence that have led into this moment, and now, I will be honoured and more than happy to show the same level of gentleness and support through the glorious role of being the head girl in our beloved school. I remember my first day in our school, I was two months behind of everything with no uniform, no textbooks, having internal panic attacks with every step I walked from the main gate to our building, which is quite some exercise. It was my second day to India actually, after six hours of flight, the physical exhaustion and emotional worrying of whether I could fit in and catch up were like adding sugar to concrete, the state of solidification was impossible. But that state of negativity and stress did not last long at all, for I had the support from my new teachers and new classmates, the cosy and stress-free environment has really transformed me, gifted me with confidence and positive energy.

You must be wondering why this girl is telling a story that’s highly irrelevant. Well, what I’m trying to express through the beginning of my journey is that none of us is truly prepared and ready for everything, no matter if it's for the pandemic, for the school, and that’s okay.

Just like when Lancers welcomed me in and provided me with a whole year of joyful memories and experiences, as your head girl, I am here to help and support you just like how everyone helped me at the beginning. This year, I will make sure that you will have amazing and meaningful experiences that hopefully don’t include panic attacks.

With great power, comes great responsibility. I will start by becoming the bridge between the students and the teachers, giving reflections and feedback that will help everyone. I will communicate with voices that are too shy to say out loud, giving opportunities to others who haven't got them before, handing out care to those who need it.

We had a rough start in 2020, giving us more challenges none of the other students have faced, but to me it is not bad luck but an opportunity. How many generations in human history can really say to their grandchildren one day that they survived a global pandemic, and despite that, we still lived the best versions of ourselves? That level of achievement and pride is absolutely possible through the help of our beloved school. With our own effort and the profound education system, everything is possible. As head girl, I will be leading as an example, as motivation and moral support to show you that everyone can dream, but only the ones who try live the dream.

Lastly, here is the LIS rule that I hope will benefit all.
L - Loving
I - Impassioned
S - Support

Let’s wish us all the best in 2020!