Ionia High School - Ionian Yearbook (Ionia, MI)

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fronted them, before they could enter the Promised Land. Those forty years of waiting were wearisome to the Israelites but it taught the great lesson of patience: that they must show themselves worthy of their success. As a result of this mistake many were doomed to die without even entering the land at all. So we cannot attain our success without working for it. We shall find many trials before us, some which will seem almost insur- mountable, but we must expect this. The most rugged and difficult paths often lead to the most charming spots. The path of Life is rugged and steep but the satisfaction of having traversed it through doubt, discouragement, and perhaps many little failures, and having reached the goal of our success, is worth the sacrifice. Heretofore, most of our decisions have been made for us, but from now on our future depends wholly on our own decisions and the way in Which we carry them out. Inspired by the noble success of our forefathers who left us such high ideals, strengthened by the interest everyone about us have in our success, and encouraged by the thought of what our success will mean to future generations, we can hardly leave High School without feeling, in a measure, that we must and will succeed in justice to ourselves as well as those who have ever had our interests at heart. It is with this sincere feeling of pride because we are here today, of hope for the future and what it holds for us, that we welcome you who have been so helpful to us in the past.

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Salutatory Beatrice Boynton To the Faculty and School Board of the Ionia High school, to our parents and many friends, we, the class of nineteen hundred and twenty-one, extend a most hearty welcome. Our success means noth- ing to us unless we can share the happiness with those who have encouraged us in our tasks and their accomplishment. During the past four years we have been enjoying the many benefits and pleasures afforded us through the generous sacrifice of those about us. Now has come the time to show our appreciation, in a more concrete way than mere gratitude. We have come to a com- paratively very important point in our life figuratively speaking, our Kadesh-barnea. But let us not falter at this point as did the Israelites on their journey to the Land of Promise. For the time, they allowed them- selves to think only of material things when they should have been all-absorbed in the lofty, spiritual life which awaited them, had they not lost their faith. The vision of the Promised Land was before them, but their sight was blurred by the immediate wants. Their example is ever present with us. May we, as classmates, keep our ideals lofty, vision clear, and hearts open to the guidance of a pure conscience. Now that we have reached our Kadesh-barnea, we must be more observant, more careful of the choice we make for our next step in the preparation of our life work. We must not ravenously seize the first opportunity which comes to us without first reviewing it in all its phases. Will it bring us the success we wish for or the regret which will fill our whole lives? One false step is sufficient to ruin our future. After we have made our choice, if it is perhaps the best, we have only taken the initiatory step toward the top of the ladder. There are many places where we are subject to fall. Our task may become so difficult that we feel we can go no further and will return prac- tically to where we started, because we do not feel equal to the responsibilities before us. Everyone wishes for success. Let us not, then, even as much as turn our head toward the easy things we have left behind us in our climb. The Israelites wished to enter the Land of Promise Which meant so much to them, but when they were within only a few miles of their great Desire they lost their Opportunity for forty long years, because they lost faith in their ability to overcome the obstacles which con-

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Class History Mildred Vohlers Memories! How they come steaiing back no matter how hard we strive to drive them away. Let one little thought of the past enter our minds and, in spite of everything we can do, other thoughts will come, bringing visions of yesterday as clearly as though they had happened today. When we of 1921 turn our thoughts back to September, 1917, it is with many and varied feelings. That date marks a distinct epoch in our lives, for it was then we entered High School, coming at last to a full realization of our dreams. In that September one hundred students entered the High School, the largest class ever banded together for work, play and friendship in our beloved institution. We were not to be disappointed with our High School days, for they were full of activity. In that first year great advancement in learning and true scholarship was made. The title of “Freshman” was bestowed upon us, but most of us failed to appreciate it. Everything was different and those who came through that first year were certainly capable of finishing the course, for it was found to be no easy task. Some dropped out, others fought a losing fight, while those of us who succeeded in finishing the course are prepared to reap the reward. With the pleasures of summer still fresh in our minds we came back to the High School in the fall of 1918. Our prospects were bright, for we were ready and eager for our school-days tasks. As president of our Sophomore year we chose Arleigh Wingrove, who proved an able leader, and when in June wre saw another class graduated from the High School, we seemed nearer than ever to our goal. Then came the Junior year, with its problems, joys and possibil- ities and each year seemed more promising than the previous one. The first and most difficult days of our course were over, and we were to make the final attempt. During the Junior year Clare Wheaton was chosen President of the class and many were the good times under his leadership. As our third year drew to a close our thoughts turned more and more to the future, and as our horizon was broadening we could see more clearly that goal towards which we were striving. Just one short vacation period, and then those who had enough wit and perseverance became full fledged Seniors. Willard Meader proved a capable leader for our Senior year, which has proved the crowning one of our High School life.