The 2023 Chronicle

OPENING OF THE MAKAN CENTRE 17 MARCH 2023

ADDRESS BY DIVESH MAKAN

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Flash forward another 20 years and I’ve met some of those extraordinary people behind the names. And I finally felt the weight of what they had done. These are people who had been here before us, and through their generosity, we benefited. And Michaelhouse students are still benefiting. These generous individuals helped create a space – literally and figuratively – for us to develop the rest of the package. As a family, we wanted to give back in that same way to this place that affected my brother and I so deeply. We wanted to contribute to this beautiful and inspiring space where the next Michaelhouse students will develop the rest of their package. And at the same time, we also hoped to honour our parents for the burden they took on so that we could prepare to seek success in our own lives. I mentioned earlier that we’re going through our own college admissions process now for our eldest, Kreeya. We visited more than ten universities across the US, with Kreeya deciding on Columbia University in New York City. What I learned during our travels is that many school campuses are truly amazing, with fantastic buildings, from classic and stately to ultra-contemporary. But Kreeya pointed out that after a while, the buildings became a blur. And what differentiated the schools for her was the culture, the intangible feeling that enveloped her inside the buildings and as she moved between them. In that way, our hope is that Michaelhouse’s forward-thinking culture of excellence and entrepreneurship is enhanced by the Makan InnovationCenter. We want every prospective student who walks through these halls to feel the strength of that culture. Or at least push them to prefer Michaelhouse over Hilton College!

ood afternoon, everyone, on this wonderfully sunny Friday. As I was thinking about what to say on this very special day, I became overwhelmed with nostalgia. And that intensified as soon as I stepped foot on campus. I haven’t been here for at least 25 years. Maybe more. So when I arrived, I was flooded with memories of some of the most formative moments in my life, and some really silly ones as well. Like skinny dipping at midnight. Or breaking into the Chapel. To this day, I can’t understand why we thought that would be a good idea. Probably because it wasn’t. And even as I laugh at those high jinks, I’m also struck by how fortunate Paresh and I were to be part of this community. Our parents gave up so much to send us to Michaelhouse. And we weren’t unique in that way. But I didn’t truly appreciate that at the time. I’m referring to both the financial commitment our parents made and the emotional loss they must have felt not having their kids around the house. At least I hope they missed us. It’s something I’m trying to prepare for as my eldest daughter Kreeya gets ready to go off to college on the other side of the US from where we live. I had been graduated for almost a decade before I began to appreciate our parents’ sacrifice in sending us here. I also realized that the excellent education I received at Michaelhouse wasn’t the greatest outcome of attending this school. Rather, it was what I describe as the “rest of the package” – traits like curiosity, the ability to truly listen to others’ perspectives, creativity, humility and perspective. The time we spent here accelerated our development as people. It pushed us – really, it allowed us – to be a few steps ahead of our peers out in the world. I don’t think it was accidental that it took me a decade after being gone to recognize this. The understanding emerged as I finished university and entered the working world, interviewed for jobs, and immersed myself in the beginnings of my career. I recognized that there was something different about us Michaelhouse boys. It wasn’t that we were smarter. It was the rest of the package. Michaelhouse had rounded us out as people. And that didn’t come from a class or a book. Those lessons were in the air here. They flowed through the buildings, like the smell of the fried eggs I ate every morning for breakfast in the cafeteria over there. Truly, though, I remember as a student walking on campus and seeing names on the buildings where we learned, studied and lived. I took those names for granted – Schlesinger, Hersov, Pascoe, Tatham, etc. Even Bill Lambert is a name that was pivotal in helping me get into Michaelhouse.

But seriously, this building is for the students of today, and tomorrow.

As Winston Churchill once said, “We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us.”

May the students of Michaelhouse be imbued with the motivation to develop their whole package, and the passion and fortitude to make the future a better place. We are so honoured to be here with you for this opening.

Thank you for today.

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