Central High School - Cog N Pen Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

Page 9 text:

IN RETROSPECT Now that I have reached the exalted status of senior, Í venture to look back upon my career at Central with varying emotions. The emotions are thankfulness and regret. As I take a retrospective view of all the good times I have enjoyed since first I entered the wel- coming portals of Central, I think of the friends I have made and with whom I associated and loved and played and studied, the friends who endeavored and succeeded in cheering me up when my spirits were low and drooping, and for whom I have retained a deep-seated and heart-felt affection. 1 think of the Central faculty among whom I number quite a few friends for whom I have extreme respect for their learning and great gratitude for all the knowledge I have gleaned from them. I think of all the football games 1 have attended and where 1 cheered myself hoarse for Central, rejoicing when we won, gloomy and downcast when we lost, but with the spirit of Central always prevalent whether we were victorious or conquered. When I think of all these things and sundry others, when events resurrect and repeat them- selves in my mind, detail by detail, in one long glori- ous sequence, | begin to realize how thankful I should be, with a deep-rooted, everlasting thankfulness be- yond compa:e. But on top of this emotion comes another— regret —to mar somewhat the beauty of my former spirit of thankfulness. When I think of the times I would have avoided a failure by a little more study, a little more concentration on work and less on play, I know that I have a great deal to regret, a very great deal; regret that is accentuated by the fact that it is lasting, and will always remain so. My sentiments are probably voiced by all those who find themselves in the same status as I find my- self: conflicting emotions of thankfulness and regret battling within them. Experience is a dear teacher, but we all get our money's worth if we become his pupils. The lesson we have learned during our high school days will be retained as long as we live. To those who may follow us in the future, who shall find themselves seniors as we ourselves are, we want to impart a message. We wish to tell them that they should profit by our experience, so that, when they make their exodus from Central High School they will take with them memories for which they will only express thankfulness, unmarred by the gnawing spirit of regret. —W. L.