Coopersville High School - Zenith Yearbook (Coopersville, MI)

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C.H.S. “The Zenith” 1935 Valedictory Success is considered a desirable achievement. Everyone wishes for it because it is necessary for health, wealtli and happiness. It is necessary for the obtaining of a good occupation and when this has been accomplished, Ihen happiness and the comforts of life can follow. In the depression that has enveloped us the past few' years, there were many idle men who found that happiness was far away because of lack of a position. Idleness caused misery and dejection that only those who experienced it can fully deecribe. But do all those who desire success attain it? We find many who do not because of some weakness. There are some who lack the will power to earnestly study and prepare. It was Lincoln who said: “I will study and get ready and some day my chance will come.” Diligent concentiation and preparedness makes the road less rocky and success seems closer at hand. There are those who study but overlook the minor details. To them these are trivials of minor importance and many times they slip and fall on the way be- cause when the final test comes, they find they had missed something most important of all. Let us conduct an analysis of ourselves and privately and honestly answer a few questions about ourselves. Do vve lack ambition? Lack of ambition is a failing that everyone is subject to, but there are individuals in w hich ambition has no meaning whatsoever They are the ones who relv on their friends for everything, who do not know what it is to think things out for themselves when perplexities arise, who finally wish that his pals had said “no” when asked by him to write his theme or prepare his next days’ lesson for him. Such persons can never be reliable and responsible for accomplishing any task. To them success is invisible and far in the distance. Is the love of pleasure foremost in our mind? Everyone likes a certain amount of pleasure. Without it life w'ould be a dull and tedious affair. We find pleasure in automobile driving, sight-seeing and different numerous kinds of entertainment, but is it the most important part of our life? Persons who consider it thus miss another extremely larger part, which becomes a pleasure when the aim is reached. The world is made up of a little bit of pleasure and a little bit of work but the work should precede the pleasure. It is a queer paradox. When we seek pleasure, it ceases to be a pleasure, but as wTe progress in our work, it becomes a pleasure. Have we a definite goal in view or do we blindly stumble forward with no future plans? The path to failure is w ide and short, but the path to success is narrow and long. It is easy to move along the first path, unguided, carefree and happy, hut, finallv, a termination is reached and you sink into the depths of despair and failure. The second path reveals itself Page Twenty-seven

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C.H.S. “The Zenith” 1935 The Senior Magazine Rack Adema, Anna—Literary Digest Balicki, Ted—Western Romances Beattie, Orville—True Detective Bennick, Ladean—Modern Priscilla Busman, August—Pep Haas, Alice—Liberty Hahn, Mina—The Home Beautiful Heeksel, Floyd—Red Book Holst, Lucille—Gregg Writer Horling, Elmer—Physical Culture Johnson, Victor—Wild West Kelly, James—Signs of the 'l imes Kingsley, John— Popular Mechanics Klatt, Eldon—The Saturday Evening Post Kraai, Julia—Good Housekeeping Kramer, Leona—The Farmer’s Wife LaMoore, Arthur—Readers’ Digest Laug, Virginia—Current Topics Lavendar, Helen—Delineator Leach, Fred—Outdoor Life Lillie, Carolyn—Hearth and Home Lillie, Jerre jean—Life Marcusse, Carolyn—Pictorial Review McMillan, El wood—Scholastic Mergener, Richard—War Cry Metten, Ida—Needlecraft Meyer, Steve—The Judge Modderman, Marion—Youth’s Companion Muzzall, Betty—Modern Romances Muzzall, Roger—The American Nuland, Esther—The Country Home Pratt, Stella Mae—Child Care Pylman, Catherine—National Geographic Riemersma, Martin—The Woman’s Home Companion Seekman, William —College Humor TenBrink, Eunice—Better Homes and Gardens Thurkettle, Ivy—The Love Story Magazine Veeneman, Harold—Michigan Farmer Venema, Clarence — The Country Gentleman Warner, Mary—The Star Dance Folio Wasenar, Mildred —Cosmopolitan Weigerink, Goldie—Photoplay Weigerink, Genevie—Classic Woltjer, Henry—The Girls’ Companion Page Twenty-

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C.H.S. “The Zenith” 1935 to be difficult to trod and often there are obstacles that loom up before us, but, by perseverance and resolve these obstacles are conquered and the goal is reached. At some time everyone is compelled to choose the path he desires and his future will depend on that choice. “We strive until the goal is gained, Then look for one still unattained; Our records point the course we take To greater records we can make— For hope springs not from what we ve done But from work we’ve just begun ” But no task can be started and no goal can be reached with a lack of determination, or if 1 may be permitted to use the modern words, a lack of backbone. Determination is the fixed resolution to reach a certain end and should be the principal object of the work attempted. ithout this resolve from start to finish, the end is never revealed. In the past there have been Inventors, Explorers, Physicians, Musicians, Poets, Writers, Presidents and many others who have each been successful in their own individual art because they studied, prepared and were am- bitious to get ahead and reach the final goal. Each one had to con- quer manv foes and overcome many difficulties, but they chose the true path and unerringly continued to the end. Would we have been as brave as Washington at Valley Forge? Would we have chosen the same course as he? Would we have been so felicitous and full of faith? Edgar Guest describes his opinion in the poem “Washington”: “When one at Valley Forge will stay, Determined still to carry on, Devoted to the cause, that dav Will see a second Washington.” Classmates, it will soon be our duty to decide on the profession we are best adapted to and then to be determined to follow' the exact road and never turn back. Never let anything appear impossible, but find it our obligation to sav “I can.” “Success comes in cans; failure in can’ts.” Ralph Waldo Emerson justly describes duty in youth: “So nigh is grandeur to our dust, So near to God is man, When duty w hispers low , thou must, 'The youth replies, I can.” Tonight, fellow classmates, before we say farewell, it is our duty to give thanks—thanks for the sacrifices of our parents, for the support of our friends and for the help of our teachers, who have stood by us so faithfully through our school days. And now the time has come for us to say the parting greeting. 'This is the last time that we w ill be assembled together and as we go on our way, let us go determined to do our best. Keep in mind these w'ords: “Determination spells success. MINA HAHN Page Twenty-eigft