Ruskin High School - Mirage Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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- , f ,, M .M , ,, r M M V W! ,,,,, ,J ,,,, ,f .,,,,.,,,,, I f -W4 , 4 QW y...Wfm' t'1 'r1WLff' gf ,1..,,,,,, ,W , I , . LZ vrfvftiffv , , I ,,,,, ,Q,,,,.,..'ggg, , , , WWW, W. I f zrfkffilfgf' 1 awww... Lead us, 0 God, into the paths of truth. Purify the inward eyes of -our nature, that we may see its light. Save us from ourselves, and show us the pattern of a world made new, wherein Thy will is done and all men are accepted as brothers. Help us to avoid the cowardice that would turn away from the thought of the misery in the world, and the indifference that would pass it by. As the challenge comes to us, show us how to work with and for one another. Abide in our hearts, accompany us in our thinking, and endow us with strength for the privilege which is ours in the midst of all that is before us. From the shadow of fear, from the shame of hatred, from the shock of violence, Lord deliver us. Direct our thoughts and clear our vision, so that the goals we strive to reach may never fade. Renew our interest in the social and moral responsibilities which rest so heavily upon us. Give us to remember that there are others in the world besides ourselves, and that they are men like unto ourselves. Enable us to come through defeat with strengthened cour- age and out of victory with gratitude and humility. Guide us, in all our way, that we may keep our faces toward the light, that our shadows lie behind us. Teach our hearts to know that Life is eternal, and Love is immor- tal, and Death is only a horizon, and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. Carol Damon 286 As students we have spent many years behind school walls hoping to be taught to teach ourselves. Some have attended to learn and interest themselves in learning Some attended simply to be bored by academics but excited by extracurriculars. Some took advantage of the finer things while some just bided their time. Some learned responsibility and to toe the line for those who were not so responsible. The high school experience taught some a disrespect for learning, a disapproval of self, and a disinterest in democracy. That's unimportant-water under the bridge for in all cases development was taking place. Maybe I'm not qualified to speak about this development. Perhaps in my own estimation I am a poor choice to speak about student behavior for I am optimistic in an age when cynicism and criticism prevail. I realize that student actions do not always blend with the designs of a school administration. That's the natural order of things, that in essence is adolescence. Out of that adolescence, I see hope. I'm optimistic. I see enthusiasm, humor, creativity and unconscious graduation to adulthood. Our behavior attitude seems to say, Each man must find a way to himself and that is the only goal of man. Isn't that really the answer? As a student, I cannot dedicate myself through education to technolo- gy, double standards, absurd ideas for success, the moon. . .There's enough to cope with right here in the mind: each must find in his own way the happiness and harmony in society and not look upon another's success as indicative of one's own lack of ability. Perhaps as students, we'lI discover the old world of understanding and seek not to change the world but only our own dispositions. And so we have our diplomas. Have we been taught discipline? No. Students aren't taught discipline: they absorb it through example, for nothing is as infectious as example. And now this ceremony gives an orderly appearance to our development. My friends, I do not hope for outward success for these graduates. I hope for acceptance of what we are and contentedness. Aren't these more important, more necessary than knowledge? Aren't these virtues wisdom? I am me. You are you. If I am not, who will be? Kevin Kane

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