Baldwin School - Prism Yearbook (Bryn Mawr, PA)

Page 9 text:

In the classes they are together, Daystudents and boarders, But they are different. The refuge of the boarder is the bell. She’ll never get to we before— The refuge of the daystudent is home. I’ll skip gym today— haven’t done my— 1 should have stayed home— Maybe she can’t— 'Way too long, I— And the sudden, respectful silence: Class has begun. At lunch there is talk. How do they expect— Applied to Vassar— This again? Do you want your ... And after lunch another class, two more classes. Before the mass indignity Of waving one’s arms up, down, up, down. This is the most stupid Why can’t we ...? But even so, you are proud (Who couldn’t, at that school ?) To be smart enough (Sure, it’s hard!) And tough enough (Is this only supposed to take an hour?) And though you hate chauvanism You are not a man without a country. Come on Baldwin! What’s the score? The woman was still waiting, politely. Well,” I said, It’s just a school.” She looked a trifle blank. I like it,” I added lamely, And she said she was glad. I was desperate, and asked, Are you coming to the concert tonight? It should be lovely. I’m wearing—” But she was looking at my grubby uniform And my awful shoes that I forgot to polish, Unable to reconcile the Plain with the Fancy. It’s come as you are,” I said, And left her standing. 5

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To the Class of 1957: At no time in history has the world offered opportunities as great as those open to your generation. Mankind is beginning to realize that all men are created equal, that national rivalries are unprofitable, that from wars only Pyrrhic victories result, that if any group of the human race is depressed, ill-fed, ignorant, all mankind suffers. More and more we are bound to the fortunes of all men. The simultaneous advances and discoveries in scientific knowledge in various parts of the world are a further illustration of the essen- tial oneness of man. If the force of these truths is fully accepted, the possibilities of human progress are boundless. How then can mankind in this wonderful age find leadership and the right direction? I believe this exists in the power of indi- vidual character, the invincible force of high moral principles main- tained in every relationship. The man who does his best to live by these has an influence far out-weighing any human mistakes he may make. Basic to the development of this kind of character must be the conviction that honesty is the mainspring of all right human rela- tionships, whether personal, public, or international. In school the honest effort to do your best, to use the many and varied opportuni- ties, to achieve growth through correcting your mistakes, to persist under difficulties, to face the test of classroom and school respon- sibilities with the determination to give unstintingly all you possess to the undertaking—this is the beginning of establishing a firm character. You learn to avoid the snare of comparison with the results of others. What matters is that you yourself are growing, that you are gaining strength as a person who can use her powers, intellectual and personal, that you are striving to mould your character accord- ing to the highest principles, ignoring the temptations to do less than your best, to take the easy way of dishonesty, carelessness and selfish- ness. Many of you have come far along this road. As you leave sec- ondary school and start out on a more adult and independent phase of your life, self-appraisal is essential. How well have you laid the foundations of your character? Are you striving to develop moral courage? Upon your answer to these questions and upon what you do to strengthen the weaker links in your character will depend the happiness and success of your life. Rosamond Cross