Brockton High School - Brocktonia Yearbook (Brockton, MA)

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Life is a game, and we are merely players, moving through the years as the dice dictate. Fate alone is not the deciding factor. We, upon moving space to space, encounter numerous untrodden paths. Each route beckons with advantages, but also holds unpredictable disadvantages. It is u to us to choose our path and face the game with determination, despite what we may be deal? Brockton High School is just one twisting segment in our game of life, We ha ve been faced with countless obstacles, yet we ha ve overcome them. The faculty and teachers ha ve established the rules of the gameg some we accepted, others we fought. In accordance with the game, we were allotted time which we distributed among academics, athletics, extra-curricular activities, and our own apersonal lives. Equilibrium was not often within our reach, but we learned to budget our time an set priorities. The diverse course selection at Brockton High School enabled us to explore and focus on our interests. In doing so we discovered the truth in, The more you learn, the more you realize how much there is to earn. The faculty guided and continuall challenged us, setting high standards and inspiring us to meet them. We have learned that tlge only boundaries that exist are self- imposed. Our teachers became our friends, teaching us more than academics. With their time and commitment, they prepared us for challenges awaiting us on the game board of life. We will always be grateful to them for their understanding and dedication. From the day the spinner landed at BHS, we knew we were being offered the opportunity for success. As reshman, we were awed by the complexity of the board 's paths, often not knowin where to turn, and faced many intimidating roadblocks. We played with a diverse roup of peopli who made us aware, and at the same time tolerant, of those different from OUFSGEGS. Having no bindinqg commitments, we watched the days fly by. Life was there to enjoy and we took advantage of it. he future seemed countless spins away, and,' therefore, was of no immediate concern, As we moved into our sophomore year, we threw the dice and became involved in extra- curricular activities, to fit in and identify with others. Friends were more dependable and our social lives began to thrive. From Friday night dances to Saturday afternoons at the stadium, the Class of '83 showed its spirit and unification. Our study habits became more structured and we were more grade conscious. Our paths remained without direction yet we were having a good time playing the game. Junior year appeared on our next playing space, and the cards we drew carried a more serious message. We buckled down and began our intense studyinlg. Plans of the future were imminent. Toget er we faced the SA T's and Achievement Tests, a c ance to prove ourselves and perhiavips determine our future course. Aside from the academic workload, the cards were in our fa vor. e junior prom was an incentive, drawing us closer to the final move in the game at Brockton High. Employment and responsibilities became reality for many, making us aware of life other than high school. Instead of comparing I.D. card pictures, we compared driver's licenses. Competitors in the game had become friends and we were comforted knowing we had one more year together. Moving our marker further along the board, we found senior year upon us. Can you believe we 're seniors? seemed to be the most often heard question. The Class o '83 embodied the theme of the Beach Boy's song, Be True to Your School', as red and black filled the corriders on Spirit Day. The pride was alive at BHS. We had become more mature and self-confident through our experiences and refused to accept things at face value. With the dice showing twelve, we faced the future with both confidence and apprehension. Applications and deadlines sparked anxiety within us. Childhood ties clashed with our goals as we realized our approaching independence Thoughts of goodbyes made us wonder how the game could be going by so quickly, yet we still held the dice and tried to control the face. Anticipation grew for the semi-formal, the prom, and the final move on the board at Broc ton High. Our experiences have taught us about ourselves and have prepared us for what lies ahead. The game is not over. We are choosinga newpath and with it new rules. We will continue moving our piece, encountering obstacles, meeting new and more challenfging players, and gaining more control over the sinuous path that stretches endlessly ahead o us. Gail Greenblatt Mary E. Ronan Ss S S S S S i X i i i M gli

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SUPERI TE DE T OF SCHOOLS liqg -Misaf- ' fiiifrg Q?:'E5 ' 4 1 f C! il 'C l??5'Q5EI lfl 62 A ,f DR. THOMAS .I WHALEN The Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Thomas J. Whalen, is the man responsible for keeping the Brockton Educational System on an even keel. He will be retiring in June of 1984g he says, I'll be graduating With the class of '84, but his responsibilities have been many during his term as superintendent. They range from serving as the Chairman of the School Committee to developing a system of educational priorities and fiscal goals. One of the major difficulties that Dr. Whalen has had to handle in the past two years has been the onset of Proposition 2V2. The dangers to our educational system have been immense. As Dr. Whalen said, Until Proposition 2V2, Brockton has had one of the most outstanding educational systems in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. But, with all of the personnel and program cuts, We have had great difficulty maintaining the system. The educational system, as well as the World, are definitely changing, and Dr. Whalen thinks that the Class of 1983 will be well prepared to face the chal- lenges of the future. He feels that based on his experience with previous classes, the Class of '83 is prepared academically, civically, and socially for the years ahead. His advice to the Class is: Never stop studying and caring. Good luck. Mary Meaden