Balmoral Hall School - Optima Anni Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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5 clitoria Hamlet asked the perplexing though interesting question, What is a man? He ans- wered it by describing man as an animal W hich eats and sleeps, but one that has been given a finer, more receptive brain. Intellectua-lly, spiritually, and physically, every man is different. He is a sensitive individual, distinguished by his own marked characterise tics. He is unique, a solitary figure, capable of destruction, yet able to create and per- form wonders. He is also part of the massive population, which forms our world today. He is independent of his surroundings, yet his character is influenced by his situation. Man is seeking a personal identity by which he will be known and respected. He is also seeking to learn about people, about the wo rld, about life - for through learning comes mwledge. Man has had many different ideas about his purpose on earth. The Buddhists, for example, believe in a life of blissful worship, meditation, and devotion in the form of com- plete tolerance. They follow a straight path, the path of life which will eventually lead them to Nirvana, a state of peace and comfort. However, as it is impossible for man to live a perfect existence, one free from sin, a Christian explains his purpose this way: he believes that by accepting his position in society, whether he be a doctor, businessman. or labourer, and by making the best of his abilities, he can hope to fulfil his God-given purpose. Every man wonders why he was created, and whether it was by accident or by a divine being. After finally deciding for himself, he can then use his knowledge to reach the goal of his beliefs. We also, have a purpose. We must strive to do better through continual efforts, for, as satisfaction makes us complacent, we do not improve ourselves. We must meet com- petition as a challenge. In this way civilization progresses. lf we strive for a purpose. our knowledge grows: our ideas, based on knowledge growg our concept of God grows clearer. Those of us who are Christians believe that everything we do affects someone elseg this is how Christianity is spread, thou gh we may be unaware of it ourselves. We are what we believe: what we believe is what we make ourselves. When we finally achieve our goal: we have found ourselves through our purpose. Then we can say, as Hamlet said, What a piece of work is a man! ELIZABETH WEBSTER School Editor

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6 Miss F, B. SHARMAN June, 1964 No words can express adequately the contribution that Miss Sharman has made dur- ing her half century of teaching, and since the better part of her professional career has been devoted to this school, her contribution has been extensive. Miss Sharman is best known probably in the Science Laboratory - known to hund- reds of our alumnae and also to many of their children. She is known not only by our senior students whom she teaches but by the smallest child who mysteriously discovers that Miss Sharman will nurse an injured bird back to health, harbour a snake, show keen interest in a dead owl, classify an odd stone, a piece of bone or a wild flower. No scien- tific speciman is ever unimportant to Miss Sharman and it is this interest which she has for so long imparted to her students. Although it is some years since Miss Sharman was awarded her Master's degree in Science at Stanford University she has never ceased to discover opportunities for new courses in nuclear physics and advanced science, For this reason so many of her stuf dents have succeeded in the science laboratories of both Canadian and American Uni- versities. As Vice-Principal for the last few years Miss Sharman has shared the duties of ad- ministration and in a personal way she has been a true friend to staff and students. To a dedicated teacher, to a loyal friend and adviser, we bid God-speed.