Legacy – by Bhavish Naveen Kumar and Aliyah Deng
It’s a surreal feeling to sit down, lay pen to paper, and write the final edition of the College Captains’ blog. As we prepare to step beyond the gates of Holy Cross College, our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude. For both Aliyah and I, serving as your college captains has been an incredible honour and an absolute privilege.
Over the past year, engaging with our school community, leading assemblies, and representing a school of bright young minds has exceeded every expectation. At some point, the formality of our duties dissolved into second nature, fuelled by the same passion that inspired us to step into these roles from day one. Serving this community has been one of the most rewarding journeys of our lives, and we could not be more thankful for the trust, warmth, and steady support you’ve given us along the way.
As our time here draws to a close, one central idea remains: Legacy.
When we think of legacy, it’s easy to picture grand gestures, trophies, or certificates. But true legacy was never about titles or accolades. It was always about the culture we left behind and the experiences we shape for others. If you ask Aliyah and I what the best part of leading the 2026 Student Executive Team was, a title or a badge doesn’t even make the list. What we are most proud of is being able to help build that legacy.
Blessed Frédéric Ozanam captured this sentiment beautifully:
“No matter, one continues to sow, leaving to God the care of making the seed germinate in His own time.”
As members of this community, we are all seed-planters. The kindness, dedication, and spirit we invest in one another today are seeds planted for tomorrow. We may not always sit in the shade of the trees we plant, or see every seed fully bloom before we must part ways, but that is the essence of building a strong community. We plant them knowing they hold future promise for the generations coming after us.
We cannot think of a more meaningful experience than embracing a spirit of compassion and service, planting seeds of hope, dignity, and kindness in every heart we touch. True legacy isn’t measured by how brightly we shone during our time here, but by how many paths we helped light (even just a bit) for those who follow.
If you take anything away from our time as College Captains, let it be this: as a community, we are all custodians of the same ecosystem. The values, traditions, and spirit of Holy Cross College do not belong to a single cohort or individual—they are cultivated collectively through every shared smile in the courtyard, every word of encouragement, and every act of service that quietly shapes our culture. We may be stepping beyond these gates, but the environment we have all nurtured together will continue to sustain and inspire every student who walks through them after us.
To everyone who forms the heart of Holy Cross…for your guidance, unwavering support, patience, and belief in us—thank you. You have shown us what true community looks like, and we will carry those lessons into every room we enter.
As we take our final bow as a leadership team, we step into the future not just with cherished memories, but with a shared legacy of kindness, compassion, and unity.
Thank you, Holy Cross College, for everything. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve you.
Signing off for the final time,
Bhavish and Aliyah