Alberta High School - School Daze Yearbook (Alberta, VA)

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VALEDICTORY ADDRESS PARENTS, FRIENDS, SCHOOLMATES; Tonight Is called commencement. To us, classmates, it is commencement. It Is the beginning of a real learning. This learning which we call experience Is some- thing that no one can give us nor take from us. We have been led through the past eleven years of oior lives with the guidance and help of oxir parents and ourteachers. During this time we have been taiight the fundamental principals of life, but now it is up to us to use them to their best advantage so that we may continue mental growth, Vfe will be the men and women of tomorrow; therefore the world of tomorrow depends on us for either its success or its failure. Which are we going to make it? This is a question that we must keep before us constantly if we are going to have thekind of future we wish for ourselves and our posterity. Although o u parents, teachers, and fellow-workers have often been disgxjsted with us, we hope someday to prove to them that it was not all in vain. We realize even tonight that it has been our untiring work and determination which has given us the realization of this good. As the years roll on, we shall appreciate more and more the valuable help which you have given us. We do not wish to praise our best nor do we hope to bury it. The things which have been a part of our lives, both good and bad, will live on without any further encouragement. What we are most interested In now is what we will make of the futxare. Tonight we realize seriously that we must fulfill our life’s task. What this task is many of us do not know, and perhaps we never will know; but we see that every- thing we do must be done in a creditable way. It looks as though we have inherited the world with all of its troubles while it is in its worst condition ever, but we must not let this stop us. We must have faith and push on, constantly striving to Improve the present situations. We can not, and will not, turn our backs on these facts. Since we have been protected from these realities during otit past years, it will be hard at first, but perfection comes from experience, therefore we will go forwaidwith hope and faith for a better tomor- row. Why is the world in its present uncertain state? It has been tossed on the rocks and the brink of destruction because of man’s selfish, greedy disposition. In many Instances God has been forgotten. We are working continuously for pleas-ure. Nations have even turned to war to gain what they desire. Tomorrow is bringing with it many similar problems plus a few more. We will then have oiir chance to do our part in correcting these situations and to help place the world on a more stable footing with God as ovir one and only supreme being. We must decide now to portray in our own lives and deeds the things which have been set up as morally and spiritu- ally correct. Everyone wants his life to be a success, but it can not be if he refuses to do his part and lend his hand to help o thers. Giving and sharing are two of the most necessary things which go to make up success today. We may not realize their value in material rewards, but after all it is the supreme, spiritual reward that we are really working for. Each time we offer a helping hand we are coming a step closer to God and to world peace. Our class motto, Tonight we launch; where shall we anchor? is certainly a challenge to each member of oior class. We realize that tonight we are in a sense, launching forth on o;ar own. We will be on our own and we must make our own decisions now. It sounds exciting to some of us when we speak of venturing out into the world of tomorrow which will be made up of people oxir own ages. It will be exciting. It will be an adventure. This adventure, either good or bad, will mean very much in the history of the universe. Our adventures will not all be easy and pleasant ones; therefore it is necessary that we start from the beginning to direct o ir lives in the right direction so that we shall anchor in a long desired harbor with the satis- faction of knowing we dldo-ur part in providing for our fellowman and our posterity. To our teachers and parents who have always been willing to help us, we wish to say thank you very much. We can not find words to express our true gratitude. We have now come face to face with reality and we realize that o xr efforts were for the best althoxigh we failed to see it at times. We greatly appreciate your patience

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SALUTATORY ADDRESS Parents, teachers, schoolmates, and friends, on behalf of the senior class of 19 1 I extend to you a moat hearty welcome to this, our last commencement exercise. We owe to you our success, our place in life, and our ability to go forth this night looking toward the future with open minds, hearts free, and the ambition to move forward. To you, classmates, who plan to start working now, may your work be a means of tell- ing what kind of person you are. May it show that you have worked hard and faithfully and that you will continue to do so in the future. May we as a class make up to this school, ovir Alma Mater, for the suffering and hardships we have caused her. It matters little what we choose as our objective in life so long as it is hon- est, decent, and worthwhile. But the main thing to look for in any job is happiness. We must not look for the way to make the most money, the biggest name, or an easy way to get by. We must have some goal to work toward. Make this goal be one throu iAiich you will accomplish something worthwhile, and one that you will find pleasure In reach- ing, one that will challenge you forever. We are living in an age in which no one knows what he may need to do next. Each and every person should do his part in making this a better place in which to live. We are, classmates, the leaders of tomorrow. May we accept this responsibility in such a manner that those who look to us may not be lead into paths of foolishness. I hope this leadership will make this country a more peaceful place in which to live andhelp other nations to understand that the free way of life is the best and only acceptable way to live. EMERSON SAID: Hitch your wagon to a star. One can see in those six littlewords the summary of human ambition, and an everlasting inspiration to the future races of men. Prom Socrates to Edison, every forward step taken by mankind through revolving cen- turies, every advancement by humanity toward the ultimate goal, has been led by some valiant dreamer whose eyes were fixed upon the dawn. Moses, with dying eyes, saw a star that blazed in the Promised Land; the radiance of an eternal star led Three Wise Men to the manger in Bethlehem; Columbus pinned his faith in the dawn of a new day; Kepler, announcing the laws of the unchanging spheres; Newton, watching the applefall, each looked beyond, and into the future. Class, let ' s all hitch our wagon to a star and look toward the future. We sire not going to be pushed through this world; we are going to have to pull and woric hard. Our wagons will be as light or as heavy as we choose to make them. If we do our part and sometimes more than our part, we shall make our wagons light, but if we just play aroiind sind expect others to do it and give us the benefit, we must change our ways of living now before we have to learn the hard way. To ponder, to acquire, to have, and to hold Is a gigantic conception of one very bold. To idle, to dream, to while away time. Is an early requisite of a decaying mind. One must act, act in accord With the reasonable idea, not with a sword. The mind that is active never is soddy Always remember the mind conquers the body; So pledge yourself to a difficult task Whenever in doubt remember to askl Always strive to put yourself ahead Be successful, my friend, keep out of the red. May we. Classmates, determine in our hearts to live acceptably and well. When we can give ourselves in ilnselfish, useful service to mEinkind, we will have given a meas- ure of that which God intended we should give. We will have justified the sacrlficea and investments which have been made for us. Our homes, our coramixnity, oiir school and our state can then be justly proud to call us their own. Again, ladies and gentlemen, may I say — WELCOME. We are indeed glad that you have cornel MILDRED CORUM SALUTATORIAN

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and willingness to guide us in the right direction. For everything you have done, may we say thank you. We shall go forth tonight as only one of the graduating classes from Alberta High School, knowing that the xindergraduates will take oxar places and strengthen us as we strive for a better tomorrow. CLASSMATES, FRIENDS, AND FELLOW STUDENTS, may I leave with you Rudyard Kipling ' s poem, IF, as a challenge; If you can keep yoxir head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yoxirself when all men doubt you. But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting. Or, being lied about, don ' t deal in lies. Or being hated don ' t give way to hating. And yet don ' t look too good, nor talk too wise; If you can dream — and not make dreams yoxxr master; If you can think — and not make thoughts yoxir aim. If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors iust the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you ' ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools. Or watch the things you give yoxir life to, broken. And stoop and build ' em up with worn-out tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and- toss. And lose, and start again at your beginnings. And never breathe a word about your loss;. If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone. And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them; Hold onl If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue. Or walk with Kings — nor lose the common touch. If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you. If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds ' worth of distance run. Yours is the Earth and everything that ' s in it. And — which is more--you ' ll be a Man, my sonj Classmates, our parting hour is now here. We are all sad at the thought of saying farewell for we have grown to love each other through our happy associations with one another. As each goes his way, we shall hope for many happy rexinions. We must now laxmch forward into the deep. FRIENDS, PARENTS , TEACHERS, FAREWELL. ERNESTINE JOHNSON VALEDICTORIAN