Angola High School - Key Yearbook (Angola, IN)

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 4 VALEDICTORY “Our Aims” Every young person should and must have some definite and noble aims and ideals in order for him to fill a really worthwhile place in the world and to leave behind him the memory of a life which had some influence on the progress of humanity. How many times you have seen people struggling aimlessly through life with no hopes of attaining any goal and with no ideals to inspire them to do better things each day, simply because they have never placed any for themselves. There is no better time for establishing our ideals and determining our goals for life than during our youth since then our habits are formed and the molds of our lives are begun. Then, if ever, our opportunities are more golden and the possibilities for life more numerous. Our goals should be high, very high. so that our best abilities will be developed in attempting to reach them. Rut when we once reach our aims, we should not stop, content with our attainment but place them higher. It is only by thinking about great and beautiful things that we have a desire for them and only by desiring them do we seek and eventually achieve them. A healthy body and a clean mind should probably be our first aim. Almost any other goal which we may set for ourselves will be unattainable in its fullest sense unless we strive to keep our bodies in as nearly a perfect condition as possible and our minds free from harmful and destructive thoughts and impressions. Education also plays an important part among the goals of life. We must seek to gain as thorough an education for ourselves as is reasonably possible so that we may be well prepared not merely to be successful in our profession or occupation for a few short years, but to be the best possible citizens and to contribute something imperishable to the betterment of mankind. Our aims should be: First, to gain a rich supply of knowledge re- garding the things that have happened and are going on about us every day so that we may really be at borne in the world. Second, we must endeavor to reach as great a height as possible in our particular vocation. Last, and most important, we must keep our minds open and alert for knowledge from every source. The practice of keeping our minds closed and prejudiced against everything new. is one of the most serious misfortunes that can befall us. The world would indeed be a very miserable and tiresome place in which to live if each one of us did not receive some new thoughts from others each day or originate something new ourselves. But the minds which are capable of producing ideas of a type which will contribute to the advancement of the world are wide-awake, keen, and observing, eagerly drinking in every atom of knowledge for future use. In every one of us should be the desire to be thought well of by all with whom we come in contact. Few people realize that the sincere commendation or the unfavorable criticism of their employers or teachers may either open or close for them, the doors to greater opportunities. What more important thing, then, can we begin during our days of youth and education than the foundation of an enviable reputation? Another goal which we should place for ourselves is self-confidence. For who can accomplish great deeds or reach difficult goals unless he first not only thinks but is determined that he is able to do well, the task which he has set for himself? If we but recognize the opportunity and realize our

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e 3 3 Another excellent reason for attending college is the independence a young person receives by being thrown upon his own resources. When he is among his friends he will depend upon them for many things; but if he goes where he knows no one he has to depend upon himself and it is the best thing that can possibly happen to him. A college education, you may contend, is so expensive that many cannot afford it. It is expensive but many young people earn either a part or the whole of the funds themselves, so it is not out of reach. However, it is not best for one to attempt to earn all his expenses while he is in school for in so doing he must necessarily neglect his studies and the social advantages, and are not these the things he is paying hard earned money to obtain? Nevertheless, no one must get the idea that he should not put much time on study. Study is what one goes to college for but the social side is important. No one can be educated by merely loafing arojind a school. It requires a great deal of earnest, diligent work to obtain an education. Neither is education something that can be inherited; it must be obtained by each person for himself. One may inherit the ability and desire for it but the education itself cannot be handed down. Tonight we are completing the first part of our apprenticeship of life. It is to be hoped that many of us will go on through some institution of higher learning to complete this apprenticeship, and thus prepare more fully for citizenship and service.

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strength, then, who can place the limits which we are able to reach? Neither on the other hand should we he over confident for over confidence is oftentimes the seed of downfall. Closely related to this goal is perseverance. No one can accomplish anything without perseverance. In our education and preparation for life we must he very persistent in our efforts. We must first choose our life's work, then determine to secure the training for it in some way. Although conditions may be unfavorable and misfortunes many, still we shall surely find a way if we but remain steadfast in our purpose and keep earnestly trying. But when the door of higher education which in many cases is necessary to prepare us for our life’s work is opened to us, the battle will not yet be won but only commenced. For difficulty and hard work will confront us and they cannot be successfully met unless our courage is as firm as a rock and our perseverance as strong as steel. Among our aims perhaps there are none more noble than service which presents unlimited opportunities, and for which we shall surely be rewarded in many ways. But in order to serve others we must make many sacrifices and we shall probably find that worthwhile life is made up of more sacrifices than we now realize. But only those who are unselfish and thoughtful are willing to sacrifice for others therefore, in order to live a perfect life of service, we must possess a characteristic which is considered to be one of the most beautiful that anyone can have and which the world so needs today, namely, unselfishness. If we ever expect to be helpful, we must begin now even if our attempts at service seem small and unimportant to us. If we keep putting off that which we should begin today until tomorrow, that tomorrow may never dawn. To be most successful in everything we do. we must aim always to be happy and keep our thoughts on the bright side of the cloud. First of all in order to keep our minds and hearts full of happiness and love, we must be living our lives for the great Creator, secure in His promises of Eternal Life. Then we must ever seek to think more about the pleasures and desires of others than of ourselves. Finally, we must become interested in some worthy cause. The person with the self-centered mind is the one who magnifies hardships, grievances, and slights while the person whose mind is intent upon some project outside itself is the one who is most able to meet trouble with a smile, a truth which is well expressed in the quotation: “After all the man who is really worthwhile is the one who can smile when everything goes dead wrong.” Let us aim to develop some individuality and to seek the many untried experiences so that we may get away from the practice of imitating and exactly copying in every way the deeds which have been achieved before our time. Although our parents have accomplished great deeds, let us aim to accomplish even greater ones, for how can the world make any progress unless its youth take this attitude? Last of all let us aim to form many valuable, lasting friendships for which our college days will offer many opportunities. Friends are absolutely necessary and it is impossible for us to live entirely to ourselves since each one is dependent on other in many ways. Indeed, it is for kind friends and parents who have given ever)- help and opportunity and made possible someone’s graduation that this graduating class and every other one is most thankful. —Ruth Alvison, ’23