L E G A C Y

The crushing weight of the past, and an ironic hope for the future

J. A. McCreery

LEAVING BEHIND A PERSONAL ‘LEGACY’ IS, AND HAS BEEN, A GOAL FOR MANY. To cement oneself in history is the only way to truly prove individual brilliance, to dissipate the nagging doubt. Everyone tells you you’re special and different, but is it really true till you prove it?

The ephemeral claims of teachers, support staff and mentors will tell each individual that they are great, or will be great, in at least one area. It is hard to not discard this as a fallacy. Amongst the billions of people in the world you are unlikely to be the strongest, fastest, smartest, most musical or most spiritual. That is the truth and for many this is a point which must be accepted. But is it okay to be a role player?

Certainly. To fill the canvas with substance is a privilege.

This season of the SWR was undoubtedly a contribution to the pages of history – one of the longest running schoolboy newspapers. We hope we have made our mark, expanding the publications breadth and reach indefinitely, but it is perhaps more comforting to think we didn’t rock the boat too much (although Justin tried), that we upheld the tradition with pride.

To escape the web of precedents and patents of the past is exceptionally difficult, the constant borrowing and re-appropriation which is subconsciously absorbed from one’s context means in many cases – to be the first is to be a liar. Maybe that is where the beauty lies, to swirl the existing drops of paint into an artwork. 

“Art is theft” – Pablo Picasso.

It’s right there in the Bible: “There is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

As the French Writer André Gide put it, “Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since nobody was listening, everything must be said again.”

The hope follows that this version of the SWR can serve the future, to provide a base for those to come. Writing is a thing of passion and the torch must be passed lest it grow dim. 

Vitai Lampada Tradunt and goodbye.