Graduation Ceremony 15
Monday 30 November 2015 at 1630hrs – Jesuits Church Valletta
Academic Oration
Dr Timmy Gambin B.A.(Melit.),M.A.(Bristol),Ph.D.(Bristol)
Sea, Time and Perspective - when the end is a new beginning
As a person who studies the maritime past of humans I could not, no matter how hard I tried, stay away
from using the sea as the main theme for this oration.
To many, the sea evokes feelings of romantic cliches, which have acted as stimuli for great literary works
such as The Odyssey, the Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Moby Dick. Furthermore, timeless works of
art, such as those by Turner and Hokusai to mention but a few of my personal favourites, all help share
the sea’s ineffable attraction. Literary and artistic works combine to promote the romantic notion and
quasi mystical portrayal of the sea. On a more practical level and away from such lofty artistic ideals, to
many the sea represents a place where one can simply unwind and enjoy recreational moments - thanks
in no small part to the relatively recent rediscovery of the seaside by the Victorians. As islanders it is
hard to get away from the fluid rhythms of the Mediterranean. Even if one is unaware of such rhythms there is no escaping the fact that the sea is intricately linked to our economy, leisure, travel and
sustenance. Cultural elements such as myths, festivities and even religion have varying degrees of
maritime links.
Some of my earliest memories of the sea are of long days spent on my father’s small boat - fishing and
swimming. During these trips he would teach me how to fish, to tie knots and most important of all - to
respect the sea. One of my persistent questions to him concerned the horizon and what lies beyond it if anything at all. Looking back, I must have been quite persistent because on one of our outings I
remember my father heading straight out of Marsamxett setting our course to what was in my mind the
edge of the world. He must have sensed my apprehension as he kept reassuring me that all would be ok.
After what seemed like a lifetime, his continuous reference to partly hidden ships coming into view and
the fact that we had not fallen off the planet into some dark liquid abyss had convinced me that the
horizon was not the end of the maritime space we were travelling on. To my sheer and utter delight I
also grasped that beyond the horizon was Sicily, an island of volcanoes, myths and history. Despite my
insistence to keep going to this fabled island he wisely turned the boat around and headed towards
home. By the time I got home I realised I had absorbed two invaluable fragments of wisdom: 1) that
there was a world beyond the tiny confines of our island and 2) that the sea was a means of connecting
us to this world rather than a barrier.
I therefore had, from an early age, a clear idea as to what the sea meant to me - or so I thought!
In the not so distant past, I worked for a number of years for a research institution which owned a vessel
that necessitated me spending many months at sea. This time was made up of an unequal blend of hard
work, missing birthdays of loved ones, rough crossings, and a few important archaeological discoveries
coupled with some long periods of boredom. When away from home my wife would consistently ask
(via all modes of modern communication) when I would be back - knowing full well that an absolute
travel date is impossible to establish when dependant on the elements. In fact, one of the unwritten
rules of seafaring is never to let any external pressures influence your decision as to when to depart.
This is of course, is easier said than done.
Nonetheless, my wife would cite some very important domestic issues that needed to be sorted and
undoubtedly I was the only one that could solve these. Once home, it would not be long before my
better half would start to ask when it was that I would be setting off again. Thinking that this was unique
to my family I shared this anecdote with friends and colleagues who lived similar lives to mine and was
left in no doubt whatsoever that ‘sea-widows’ are the same the world over.
This brings me to the second part of my talk and one that will deal with the theme of ‘perspective’.
Just as one can view the sea from different points of view - so too can one view your graduation. The
easiest approach would be for you to think that your journey is now done and that you have steered you
proverbial ship comfortably and safely into port. You may decide to disembark and explore the environs
of the port - an English word linked to the latin portus, which actually gave rise to words such as porta in
Italian and portal in English. Both these words are clear indications that ports are considered as
gateways - gateways that facilitated the movement of not just people and goods but also of cultures and
ideas. Indeed, ports are not simply places through which people, cultures and ideas move but, and
more significantly, where these elements blend and take on new forms. What I mean to say is that
thanks to your educational journey you may feel you are in a good place; and that exploring your new
surroundings - both physical (as in the job market for example) and intellectual - is a good thing. It is in
fact commendable and possibly even understandable.
However, it is, in my opinion, not altogether correct!
An increase in knowledge will imbue you with the confidence to undo the ropes that may currently be
keeping you shackled to your comfort zones. By permitting yourselves to set off on a new adventure you
can and indeed must make use of knowledge and experience that you have garnered over the past few
years - knowledge that should make you curious and unquestionably hungry for further learning.
Whereas the urge to linger in your current ‘life-location’ may seem tempting - think of all the magical
places that your hard earned knowledge can take you. Think of unexplored and uncharted intellectual
domains that are yours to discover and explore. As the apostles were taught by Christ - do not fear
casting your nets in deeper waters - away from the comfort of the shore. Some of you may be too tired
and weary at the thought of undertaking a new voyage - however, I implore you to think again. Most of
you are still very young and you may choose to utilise a creative and convenient perspective - that which
is being currently referred to by experts as ‘postponed adulthood’. I have a degree of difficulty with this
terminology as it has somewhat of a negative connotation, bringing to mind countless parties and
perpetual youthful largesse. My take on this new phenomenon is also one of perspective - a way with
which one looks at the new ‘timeline of life’.
Time has always been, contrary to what some scientists would have us believe, a very subjective matter.
One month for a three year old child for example equivalates to one thirty sixth of its life. It is therefore
not surprising that the older one gets, the quicker time seems to pass - despite a day still having 24
hours of 60 minutes each and a year still having 365 days. Medical advances are contributing to an
increased life-expectancy which is in turn rapidly stretching this concept of a new ‘timeline of life’.
Today we are, in the main, undoubtedly living longer, if not necessarily healthier lives. Due to this new
and stretched timeline the dawn of added responsibilities does not creep up on youths as early as it
once did, providing the time and space for expanded intellectual adventures that were simply not
available for previous generations. Some of you may not be aware of this because you have been
brought up within this new timeframe and are currently living it. Hence, if you take nothing away from
my words kindly take this - more than ever - time is on your side. In spite of this, it is also essential to
never forget that time is also a very precious and finite resource - I implore you to use it wisely.
Therefore, and in conclusion, may I beseech you to recognise in yourselves, the bright people that you
actually are. Today all of you, in my eyes at least, are potentially on the brink of starting the next leg of
life’s odyssey. This will help you gain experience which will in turn shape what sort of person you will
evolve into. And what sort of a person you grow into also determines the impact you have on those
around you. There may come a time when you will be the beacon for future generations of youngsters,
be they employees, students or researchers. Keep in mind that the light your followers will focus on is
that which is currently being kindled within you - showing and sharing this light is both a responsibility
which you must shoulder and an immense privilege with which you will hopefully be blessed.
Thank You