Columbia University College of Pharmacy - Apothekan Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 11 text:

H Eternal Providence has appointed me to watch over the life and health of Thy creatures. May the love for my art actuate me at all times; may neither avarice, nor miserliness, nor thirst ' for glory, or for a great reputation engage my mind ; for the ene- mies of Truth and Philanthropy could easily deceive me and make me forgetful of my lofty aim of doing good to Thy children. May I never see in the patient anything but a fellow creature in pain. Grant me strength, time and opportunity always to correct what I have acquired, always to extend its domain; for knowledge is immense and the spirit of man can extend infinitely to enrich itself daily with new requirements. Today he can discover his errors of yesterday and tomorrow he may obtain a new light on what he thinks himself sure of today. God, Thou hast appointed me to watch over the life and death of Thy creatures; here am I ready for my vocation. And now I turn unto my calling. jt

Page 10 text:

CHARLES WILLIAM BALLARD D €fl ns m £ S S ft G £ Although my opportunities for personal and continuous contact with the members of Class ' 51 are limited to the final year, I have formed some opinions about the class as a whole and their possible differences from the general pattern of preceeding classes. The differences which are especially deserving of- comment are in respect to scholastic performance as in- dicated by grades received, and potentialities in after life as indicated by interest in extra- curricular actvities. The first rests on a factual basis, and you have supplied the facts. The second, involves predictions with the hope that they will be borne out by your activities after graduation. As this statement must be sub- mitted for the Yearbook before the end of the Winter Session, I must include a reservation to the effect that the opinions about scholastic performance are as of date of writing. In the matter of scholastic performance the outstanding characteristic of the class has been the ability to maintain a good all-round level rather than the extremes of distinction and disaster. This is not to be construed as an in- dication of mediocrity and it may be due to careful selection of those admitted in 1947 plus continuous check and guidance thereafter. This is the first class to benefit from such service rendered by the Dean ' s Office or, from a different viewpoint, bear the brunt of it. The result promises to be a material reduction in the number of students with marginal stand- ings which are so unsatisfactory to all con- cerned. Predicting potentialities is a hazardous pro- cedure but fortunately the predictor is usually saved embarassment through his predictions being forgotten or not available after the lapse of time necessary to prove or disprove them. While aware of the fallacies of such predic- tions, the unusual activity of this class in extra- curricular affairs may indicate that some of its members may manifest a like interest in phar- maceutical affairs after graduation. If this be so, I urge them to identify themselves with one or more of the pharmaceutical organizations. The interests of these organizations may be diverse but the ultimate objective of all is the advancement of pharmacy. Give your support to and join the nucleus of active workers striv- ing, each in his own way, to attain this objec- tive. These men have become the leaders in pharmacy through their work, and our College has always been well represented at national, state and local levels. Many of them have been students in my classes, and I have a feel- ing of pride in havng been associated with them in their early days. We have leadership material in this class and I sincerely hope that from it may come men as willing and able to carry on in the advancement of Pharmacy as their predecessors. Upon graduation the members of Class ' 51 will have earned the right of joining with the long line of those whom we consider a part of this College. Graduation has established a per- manent tie between them and the College which neither can sever. At first it may be mere sentiment but it tends to become more clearly recognized as the years go by. Con- tributory factors are participation in some par- ticular group activity during college residence, relationships with one or more instructors and continuance of friendships between students after graduation. But all these center about the College and those who study or teach in it. They are relationships between people and the building is merely the place where they origi- nate. This is how you stand with the College after graduation. You are a part of it and it has a continuing interest in you and every other Alumnus. It has reached its present stature through this community of interest and its future welfare depends upon it. It stands ready to assist you in any matter within its province. It hopes you will be equally ready to stand by it. Congratulations to each of you on a work well done and sincere wishes for success in your future undertakings.

Page 12 text:

WE ' RE GRADUATING We ' re graduating. We ' re through, finished, and most of us are glad, glad because we made it . . . because you can ' t go to school forever, and graduation means that we are ready to be, not to become, ready to live the things we have learned, ready to stand up and make decisions for ourselves, to use our own discretion and judgement. We hope we are ready. We have learned the facts, the skills, mastered the million and one details of our art. We should be ready. But are we? Have we learned to live with one another as men should, with a little honor and a bit of dignity? Have we learned to do what we feel to be right regardless of the consequences? Have we learned only how to make a living, or have we learned how to live? The answers will be written by all of us in the years to come. Pharmacy will be what we make it.