Coopersville High School - Zenith Yearbook (Coopersville, MI)

Page 15 text:

pay us at seventeen or twenty to make “I” a little less prominent. That is one great reason why we should be careful about the things which help to build char- acter. We are in this golden era, and we must be a part of it, we want the very best in us to influence others,—not the worst. The motto of our life should be “Others—not Self ’ Remembering, too, that while it isn’t always the easiest thing to do, yet there is a bright lining to the dark cloud. It would seem to some of us that there wasn’t much in us—not much that would influence others—not much that could possibly help others—still when it comes to the test we will not be missing, and then our true worth becomes known. A person remarked as a group of gay young people passed by—“There doesn’t seem to be much in that crowd.” His companion replied—“No, there doesn’t on the outside, but you know it takes the night to bring out the stars.” It isn’t always the person who does the big things, it isn’t always the person who says the most, but often the person who says the least and does the small and seemingly insignificant things who truly is the greatest.—Indeed it takes the night to bring out the stars! The bright and worth-while things, the beautiful things, aren’t always found when the birds are singing or the flowers are budding — when Spring is in the air, but again quoting Emerson, they are found in the mud and scum of things and there it is that some- thing alwav, alway, sings. And then when we come again to the great theme—character—we must always remember—never during our whole life forget—that there always exists that great Law of Compensation.—“With that measure with which ye mete, it shall be meas- ured unto you again.”—and that great law never fails. So it remains for us to develop all our God-given powers to the very best of our ability. One day I happened to notice this striking sentence in a large building in Chicago—“Be Somebody and I)o Something.” We should aspire to be somebody, to possess strength of character, independence of purpose, ambition, self-respect. It follows as a matter of course that one who is a Somebody will do Something. He will not be willing to fritter away his energy on nonessentials. He will help those weaker than himself to see the bright lining of the dark clouds. He, too, will count one in every contest where right is matched against wrong. To be Somebody and do Something; that gives scope for the ambition of the most aspiring. And yet no human being made in the Divine image should be content with less. With this in mind, may we as Seniors of the Class of 1920 go forth to be n Somebody, and to do Something—to help someone along this road of life—always remembering that great Law of Compensation and the bright lining to that dark cloud as expressed in that wonderful poem of Emerson’s called “Music”— Let me go where’er I will I hear a sky-born music still, It sounds fiom all things old. It sounds from all things young. From all that’s fair, from all that’s foul Peals out a cheerful song. It is not only in the rose, It is not only in the bird. Not only where the rainbow glows, Nor in the song of women heard,— But in the darkest, meanest things. There alway, alway, something sings. ’Tis not in the high stars alone, Not in the cup of budding flowers. Nor in the redbreast’s mellow tone, Nor in the bow that smiles in showers,— But in the mud and scum of things. There alway, alway, something sings. Jennie Hinken, '20. Paj?e Thirteen

Page 14 text:

Salutatory E as a class, come together for practically the last time. It is the end of our school-days together, and yet it is but a beginning. We thought when we came into high school as Freshmen that that was the begin- ning; but as we are here, to graduate, it is but a new beginning. A beginning with new and larger problems than ever before confronting us! We are so glad to welcome you, for we realize it is you who have made this evening possible for us. So in the name of the class, I ex- tend a whole-hearted welcome to you. When we think of this as a beginning—a commencement—we almost imme- diately ask ourselves—“What have I to begin with? Have I anything worth- while?” The first thing which comes to our minds is—“What ability have I?” And each will have a different answer. “What are my inclinations, my desires?” While thinking of these, we come to the great question—“Have I a character that I in no way need be ashamed of?” A great deal depends on the attitude we shall take toward questions when we leave school. A very great deal depends on whether we shall look at the bright or dark side of things—whether we become pessimistic or optimistic. There will always be tile dark clouds, but if we look rightly there will always be the silver lining behind them. There is always good in all things if we can but see it—everything, no matter how great or how small, has some good thing in it. Oftimes it is these trifling things, as we think, that bring out the best in us—develop our better self. It is not always just silver lining—it often is gold—worth that much at least to us. As Emerson has so beautifully said that in the darkest and meanest things is found the something we have been looking for. A great many times things which appeal to our outer man, our inner man shrinks from. It is indeed our testing—whether the outer or inner man wins. It will upbuild our characters or destroy them. There are many ways in which we may upbuild our characters. Brooke Herford once said—“Begin bv denying yourself, and by and by you forget yourself. The kindness which was at first just a duty, becomes a pleasure and a joy. Self-denial becomes glorified into self- forgetfulness.” Although we will acknowledge it or not, there are many .many things which influence us which we do not even stop to analize—we take them as a matter of course—may we call them “Silent Influences?” These things may be good or bad. still they influence us and become part of ourselves. It is often these silent in- fluences which determine whether we shall look upon many things in a dark or bright light. There are also the outward and visible influences, which help to de- termine our character.—And character means so much to us in these days. This generation in which we live is marvelous—so many, many golden opportunities pass by,—unnoticed,—until it is too late and then we are saddened because we have neglected them and have thought only of ourselves and not of others. A clever magazine drawing shows life as it appears to us at seventeen and seventy. At seventeen the artist believes life consists mostly of one huge “I,” and the other letters of the word being quite lost in the “I’s” immensity; but at seventy life is mostly “if”; to the exclusion of all its other parts. Too many young people make I” the largest part of life, always putting first their own desires, advancement, or opinions, regardless of the rights or wishes of others. But a life so begun is sure to have so many needless disappointments that when old age overtakes it, that life—in retrospect—will lose itself in one big “if”. “If only I had!” they say, or “If only I had not!” If at seventy or eighty we would esteem ourselves, it will Page Twelve

Page 16 text:

History JS 1 great ship passes out from the protected bay into the great unknown ocean; even so we, having completed the course of C. H. S., are about to launch out upon the sea of life. But ere we lift the anchor, and be- fore the good-byes are said, let us take a glance back over our high school course. One beautiful September morning in the year of 1916, you might have seen, had you been looking, a group of thirty-four boys and girls wending their way towards out modern C. H. S. building. A new era was before us and we truly felt that our entering the High School building was doing the organization an honor. But the moment we set foot in the great building all this had vanished. The only pleasant remembrance we have of this day was the friendly smiles of our instructors to be. And as we look back from a Senior’s standpoint we are sure they just had to smile. You cannot imagine how it feels to be a freshman unless you have been one. In spite of all these difficulties we entered the routine of a C. H. S. student with a spirit of “do or die”—probably “die” if the Sopho- mores had a hand in it. A freshman’s life is not entirely miserable, however. We could go to the base ball games and sometimes use the drinking fountain just as the Seniors did. We could look down on the children of the grammar school and inquire as to the progress in the grades. Our class of thirty-four had only three who had started out together, Ruth Laug, Katherine Hoban, and Myron Albrecht. The rest of us had drifted in all along the line. As we entered the Sophomore year we found we had, as freshmen, been severely sifted; only eighteen enrolled in the fall of 1917. As Sophomores we were duly impressed with our responsibility and conducted ourselves accordingly. Still, at this time we were denied the privilege of managing school affairs. Even at this early stage of our High School Course, some had already distin- guished themselves. One was always found with an unusual number of A’s to her credit. Indeed, we have heard that one member of the class aspired to editorial work. But be that as it may, it is a well-known fact that we had two amateur musicians, Ruth Laug and Jennie Hinken, whose careers promised to be great and world-wide. As Juniors in the fall of 1918, we were reinforced by eight new members who came from Allendale, Nunica, and Lamont, making our number twenty-four. No class has had more school spirit than the Junior class. Who would not be proud of a class that had such a splendid record in school activities? Especially were we prominent in the newly organized orchestra, being represented by eight members. This class always turned out nobly for all games; and it is a fact that we were all out to the Track Meet and witnessed the scene which meant so much to our school. But alas! fate was against us; Ravenna carried off the honors. Another big event of the year was the Junior Social. This was “one grand success,” due to the tireless efforts of the members of the class. The main features of the evening included the fish-pond, menagerie, and “Program Free!” The Junior- Senior banquet concluded the program of the Junior year which was a success in every way. Then we reached the last stage of the journey. Our Senior year lay before us. Here was the object of our ambition and the crowning glory of our endeavor. For were we not Seniors to whom all under-classmen must bow in submission ? In spite of the superiority we felt, we found that Senior responsibility was placed upon us. We were glad to welcome as a class-mate, Howard Brecken, a member of the class of T9, who had answered the call of his countrv and enlisted as a marine. Page Fourteen