Braintree High School - Wampatuck Yearbook (Braintree, MA)

Page 15 text:

Resolutions gEFORE viewing the foolishness of resolutions and their effect on high school students, let us define the word. Mr. Yebster tells us that it means stead- fastness and resoluteness of purpose. A new set of more foolish resolutions appear with the all-round merriment of the New Year. But the resolutions we are going to discuss are those made by high school students at the beginning of the school year. Resolutions are made in moments of weakness. What happens to most resolutions? The answer is very simple. We either keep them or break them. We make resolutions, write them down, or record them in the back of our minds and soon forget them. A high school student making a resolution is undoubtedly sincere, but it is a trick of fate that few resolutions pertaining to higher scholastic achievements are kept. A freshman begins his high school career resolving to do his homework faith- fully and aim toward a higher goal. For a few weeks they are kept faithfully be- cause he is rather timid and everything is new to him. The first term reaches its end with no trace of the resolution left. A new year begins. Our hero is a sophomore. Again resolutions are made but they are not kept as long as they were the preceding year. The junior considers resolutions and decides to try again. Another failure — another resolution discarded. Our hero is a senior. He thinks it ' s beneath his dignity to bother about resolutions and so no new flock springs up. When bigger and better resolutions appear they will be of great value. PAGE 9

Page 14 text:

New Faces AC ' H September brings to Braintree High Scliool a group of new personalities. The freshmen — conscious of the fact that they are “green” ami on i)arade — enter the building with cautious reluctant steps. Soon our little freshmen collectively become a member of the excited, enthusi- astic group and the new stiulent forgets to be shy and backward. “Where’s 303? — how long are the classes? — will we have homework the first day? — is Ir. Toolin ]-eally as nice looking as they say? — where ' s the locker-room I hear so much about ?” The answers to these questions are often times far-fetched and misleading but the upper-classmen are simply taking stock of the personalities and disposi- tions of the new entrees. If the frosh take everything “with a grin and bear it” attitiule, they are immediately considered popular members of Braintree High School’s student body. Following the introduction of classmates comes the gruesome ordeal — meet- ing the teachers. How to act? — what to say? — all makes life more miserable for the new student. They enter each class with knees knocking and teeth chattering only to find that the teacher at the desk is quite amicable and really human. Of course there are always some who make a poor impression — but then, what would the poor infants talk about on the way home if they were all perfection. The first day is the hartlest — from then on it’s fun! F ' pperclassmen are more friendly and willing to lend a helping hand when necessary. The 3 ' oung and in- nocent soon begin to follow in the footsteps of the more experienced — even to the extent of copying style of clothes — manner of speech — coiffeurs — color combina- tions — and in time, acquire the superior and sojdiisticated air. Conversation soon l)ecomes natural and fun rather than the forced task it was on the day of entrance. Before the year is over they are well acquainted with their class teachers and the well-known iMr. Jordan — one hour session every day this week. i Ii. s Welch — “excuse please,” iMi.ss Strout — “take your books and yourself and sit at the end table” and IMr. Jones who insists upon finding out your life’s history — past, present, and future. PAGE 8

Page 16 text:

And In Passing gTRANGE sip;hts are seen about high school or, in fact, wherever high school students gather — bright colored socks shown to their best advantage by trousers rolled ujd — bright plaid skirts — those multi-colored ril)bons which ap- peared simultaneously with the North Quincy game — girls’ hair in various and intricate fashions — gaj socks coming to the knees — showy checked shirts — simplicit} in male coiffeurs — clothes that shriek with gay colors — wornout brief- cases — latest model cars and cars which have seen Ijetter days — saddle oxfords — shy hands deep in pockets — those matching debby berets — brilliantly colored jewelry — noisy corritlors between classes — smart-looking cheer leaders — girls in the corridors dressed in hockey uniforms — petite drum majors — monogramm- ed gym suits — reversibles — people who are always borrowing your homework — the lone male cheer leader — enormous stacks of books — sophomores sitting downstairs with upper-classmen at every assembly — freshman girls in love with their home- work — black velvet skirts and bright red cardigans — cheer leaders’ new uniforms — angora mittens — display of legs by drum majors — pretty girls at Braintree High — a football star, the sophomores’ pride and joy — -ice cream sandwiches in a noisy cafeteria — display of school spirit — a good football team — new faces among the upperclassmen — checkered dresses — girls’ flashy skirts — showy jackets — . tough homework assignments — boys’ many-colored ties — the Thayer Drug Co. after school — noise made by Braintree rooters at North Quincy game — Wow! it was terrific! ! ! PAGE 10