"I'm proud to be a student at our school"
Leonor Nunes, a student distinguished for her grades obtained in the 12th year, was present at the ceremony and read a text of her own, entitled “Pride of Our School”, sharing the unforgettable experience of having entered in 2020 and left in 2023 with a rich personal collection of memories and learning. In a creative and heartfelt way, the now university law student drew up a mental itinerary of a common day of classes at the “Liceu”, which we are proud to share:
“Liceu Jaime Moniz or Escola Secundária Jaime Moniz, born in 1837, in that year with the name Liceu Central do Funchal and installed on Rua dos Ferreiros with only 44 students attending it. Today, and almost two centuries later, it is one of the largest secondary schools in the country, having passed through it so many important people who stand out in the regional and even national panorama.
Also today, I, who until last year was part of this large group of students, can say that I am proud to have been a student at the Liceu. Perhaps because I listened to family advice or because I chose the science and technology course, I preferred to enroll in this school and not another, however, I know it was the best choice. And that's a fact because the Leonor who came here in 2020 wouldn't recognize the Leonor who left in 2023. It was at Liceu that I grew, evolved and achieved goals that I never thought were achievable. I managed to do so with the help of the best teachers, who I consider to be the most competent and capable of showing students the most captivating aspects of their subjects. Furthermore, with my friends, who will always be part of my life, because even if not physically, they will be kept as a memory of the best years of my life. Yes, they were actually the best.
And now, I'm going to give you a mental itinerary of a day of high school classes, it's as if you closed your eyes and could see it. I enter through the student entrance, and walk a little outside until I reach the main building and show my card, at which point I am actually already inside. I take a few more steps, and look to the left, the reprography, a space that I am not allowed to enter by my mother, except when a couple of times I had to help her carry some books, and then to the right and I see the “100 ”, the best classrooms, where I had classes in year 10 – there is teacher Marta inviting the students to come in and discuss biodiversity. But that's not where I'm going, I go up the stairs and get to the second floor, not as popular as the first, but it means I'm in 11th grade, and maybe I'll meet my mother at the teachers' entrance, or else I have to go I go to the gym for my physical education class, and I pass by the museum and look at the illustrious faces that have passed through here, and I hope that one day my photo will be there. In a little while I have classes in the laboratories on the 3rd floor and that's where I'm going, but first I say “good afternoon” to Mr. João because I know that without him and the ladies who work there the school wouldn't exist. I then go to biology class and later have a break, which is spent in the courtyard. The next class is in classroom 304 with teacher Quitéria who teaches me the magical story of Baltasar and Blimunda, but I remember that I'm now in year 12 and I haven't been to the annex yet, so I go down the entire staircase and that's where I'm headed. I first pass by the football field, where I remember that I spent all of high school without ever running the mile, although I ran in teacher Rufina's classes much more than that. I then enter that kind of special and welcoming little house that is the annex to have the last class of the day with teacher Geralda. I leave the building feeling a little hungry and need to go to the bar, but first I need to stop by the fencing room to rehearse with teacher Vanda the play that we are going to present during the week of clubs and projects. After that, I go to the bar, but I remember that, in the meantime, I finished high school and… well, I did it!! Then I realize what day it is today and that I am in this conference room to read this text to you.
Fernando Pessoa said the phrase “We live from memory, which is the imagination of what died”, but for me the experience of being a high school student, although just a memory, is the most vivid one I have, and will continue to resonate as long as I can reproduce it in my mind. I sincerely feel privileged to have attended this school and I wouldn't change anything about my journey, because I feel that all the unrepeatable moments combined together culminated in a new “me”, which I believe is the best version of myself.
So, in conclusion, and also referring to my younger colleagues, who have done their best so far, I hope that you continue your performance with effort and dedication, knowing that in addition to being a source of pride for yourselves, this school is also proud of you, and that's the biggest reason for encouragement. The best part of being a high school student is knowing that these three years only happen once, and that's why it's crucial to make the most of every moment, not only with the intention that it will never happen again nor come back for us to relive, but above all with the knowledge that that it will be another step in the construction of the centenary history of this school.
Funchal, January 31, 2024
Leonor Rodrigues de Ornelas Nunes, former student of the Science and Technology Course”