Grand Rapids High School - Pirate Yearbook (Grand Rapids, OH)

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- H ro SUCCLSS We have not reached the sublime heights of perfection. We are only beginning in life. Tonight we have no claim on the word Usuccess.U We cannot know what it means now, but we can move toward it. The way to success is like a rough mountain trail to the top. The path is rugged and full of stumbling-blocks. Many people turn back when they find the way too hard and steep. Some want success, but will not work for it. They are afraid to face the rough mountain trail to the top. Success depends upon several factors. Each is vitally important and, when combined, help to give success a 'true value. Whenever a person thinks of successful person, he will think of someone as having risen to the top physically, ment- ally, socially and spiritually. Success cannot be complete if one of these is lacking. T The recipe for success is like the recipe for a cake. If one of the ingredients is lacking -- the cake does not taste right and is a disappointment. If one of the four factors of success is lacking, success is not genuine. Robert Browning expresses an idea in one of his poems, nRabbi Ben Ezra,W which is worthwhile. He says that the last part of life is the best part. Youth only prepares one for the real life. We might interpret this to mean that life is worthwhile only after we reach success. May I quote a few lines from this poem: NThen welcome each rebuff That turns earth's smoothness rough, Each sting that bids not sit nor stand but go! Be our joys three-parts painln We appear before you for the last time as a part of the student body. Our school life has been happy,and we regret to leave it. It has helped us in our climb and has put us one big step nearer the top. To some of us, perhaps the top may be near--we cannot know until we reach it. Perhaps some shall fall by the wayside--the future is not revealed to it. This is one of the biggest moments in our lives. The goal which we set years ago has been reached. This is one occasion which we will remember all of our lives. We must not stop here and be satisfied now. We are following our mo- tto -- nOnward to Success.n We shall not stop now, but keep onward, upward to that goal which perhaps few will reach. We must tarry here no longer. We do not want to tell you good-bye. Your friendship has helped to make our past life more pleasant, and our climb more rapid. Must we part now? We, the Senior Class of 1938, bid you, our friends, not farewell, but a pleasant good evening. Margaret Vogel Valdictorian

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O N W A fi D To-night is our commencement. This is just another step in the direction of our goal, which is success. Sometime dur- ing our school years, we selected U0nward to Successn as our motto.. We have worked these twelve years with that goal in mind. These years have seemed to pass with surprising rapid- ity. Webster says that onward means to move forward to an ad- vance state. This gives one a chance to advance, no matter what he is doing. It makes no difference who the person is, he never reaches to the state of perfection, so that he can-- not be improved. During our life, we are never at a standstill. We are either pushing ahead or slipping backwards. It all depends upon the individual's viewpoints and ambitions. We have two different types of persons in life. There is the one who is contented to sit by the roadside and see life rushing by him. There is little probability that this type of person will be interested in finding a way to improve himself. Cn theother hand, there is the person who is never satisfied until he has rea ched the top in his selected field. That old saying, UHitch your wagon to a star, take your seat, and there you are,N illustrates the principles of on- ward very well. We should make our aim and then strive for it. If one works hard enough toward his goal, one will suc- ceed. We should make our aim high. Perhaps we may not reach the top, but it is better to have high ideals than to drift aimlessly through life, never having some specific course. We don't have the power to foresee all the rough spots which we are going to meet, but if we plan our future, we Will be bet- ter prepared to overcome some of the hard parts. Oliver Wendell Holmes has said, Like a child in ocean's arms, We strive against the stream, Each moment fa rther from the shore, Where life's young fountains gleam:- Each moment fainter waves the fields, And wider rolls the sea: The mist grows dark,--the sun goes down-- Day breaks--and where are we?U To-night the Seniors leave their high school life. Each one will go out to work in his individual field. We have reached one of the goals which we have long sought, but wecan not stop here. Our high school education has been one way to promote ourselves toward our goal. To-night is the beginning of a new life for us. . Leona Tolles Valdictorian

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SENIQK PLAY CAST The first Senior class play was NHERE COMES CHARLIEV And was presented March 10, 1938 in the school auditorium. It was a three-act comedy, and was directed by the class adviser Mr. Oman. The play was the story of a little girl from the hills who entered society. Her father sent her to the city when he died. Imagine what would happen in such a situation. Humor and laughs are produced by several character parts. The play ends happily at the wedding of the girl from the hills, and the young society man. Boyd Box was the stage manager. The cast is pictured on the opposite page. Front Row: Charles Sherwood, Lotus Huffman, Rnbert Perry, Vivian Bortel. Back Row: Donald Miller, Martha Hennings, Virginia Heller, Thelma Petteys, Myron Fox, Robert Sautter. s X f SENIOR PLA! CAST The second Senior class play is UHIS BEST INVESTMENTH to be presented May 12, 1938 in the school auditorium.Miss Dex- ter is the director. The play takes place after the World War. We see how we can invest ten thousand dollars to bring profitable returns. The play is full of surprises, and has'-a surprise ending. Charles Sherwood is the stage manager and Robert Sautter and M ron Fox are the property managers. The cast is pictured on the opposite page. Front Row: Boyd Box, Leona Tolles, Raymondygsyman, Margaret Vogel. Back Row: Ruby Gibbons, Raymond Fisher, Edna Carson, Evelyn DeWitt, Lenora Faylor, Robert Guyer. Caroline Lamson and Donald Miller are also in the play, but they are not in the picture. .