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

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valliseueulee IN OURSELVES, OUR FUTURE LIES Parents, Teachers, Classmates, Friends: Twelve years ago, thirty-two boys and girls started in the first grade. Of these same thirty-two, only sixteen are graduating here to- night. The rest have dropped out or moved elsewhere while others have joined the class to take'their places and to form our present class. Tonight is the last timewe can call ourselves Seniors of Grand Rapids High School. Each minute draws that time nearer. As we think of this, we realize that our future holds greater responsibilities than we have yet experienced. When we were smaller, our parents and our teachers helped us make our decisions and helped us with our work. Then little by little, they let us make our own decisions and do our own work. They also taught us new things to prepare us for our future. Tonight, as never before in our lives, we go out to assume these many new responsibilities. Since we have been in school,and especially during the past seve- ral ycars, our class has been able to show some of its abilities. It is our desire that, as each one of us goes out tonight, we shall be able to retain these abilities in our individual lives, Each one of us is capable of working and getting ahead,but in or- der to know success, other things are needed. What else do we need? We need ambition, willingness to cooperate with others and to do our share, and a pleasant, cheerful personality. These are small but vital factors in building our future success. For example, let us imagine that an employer is hiring someone for an office job. Two men have applied and the-employer decides to let each one try the job for one month and then decide which man he wants to keep permanently. We shall give each man the same education and background,make their experience in the trade parallel, and clothe each neatly. When the month is up, which man will the employer wish to keep permanently? Other things being equal as we made them--the employer will retain the one who does his work without complaining,who is will- ingto cooperate with the others in the office, and who has adapted himself to the personalities and whims of others. So we see that abi- lity to get along with others is an important factor. This also means that we must be willing to do an unpleasant task as well as just the pleasant phases of our work. It means thatwemust go according to rules and regulations, and that we must be reliable and dependable.

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CSalutatory Cont.J currency stabilization, and granting of credit to some backward countries, we could put them on the reed to progress. We nugt have faith in other nations and not always feel that each one is trying to chest us. However, on the other hand, we should not be too trusting for there are still those who have and always will have the imperial- istic tendencies which have existed since the beginning of time. The solutions to these problems lies in the education oftheyouth of the country. Many of us tonight finish as much formal schooling as we'will receive. Are we ready to face these problems which must be solved in order that the world can have complete peace! Or will there be another war when our children are as old as we, a war which will surely destroy the world? There can be no shirking this problem. By saying that we don't want another war, we shell not achieve peace. Meetings of the United Nations will not do it either unless the organization is better supported by the people than we are supporting it now. We should look upon this organization not as a plan which has been tried and found unsound, but ss one which will go forth and ac- complish its purpose if we have complete confidence in it and support it. We con't discontinue our education just because we are graduating tonight. We must keep in touch with problems of the world, through our books, our radios, and our contacts with fellow citizens. After tonight there will be no teacher who once or twice s week on current events dey, tries to familiarize us with world problems. It is our duty to keep informed on the problems of the world and to do our part to remedy them or the peace of the world will fail. The President or any other outstanding statesman, can not make world peace by'deliverinE a speech. Each and every citizen must assume e personalresponsibility in breaking down these barriers and causing the creation of integrity and faith among peoples and nations. My question--Can we maintain the peace?--hos not been answered. I have only suggested ways in which it might be done. Our actions and the actions of the rest of the world's people will answer it. Tonight,'however, we are graduating---receiving the diploma which is our reward for twelve years of study. This night will not stand out in your memory es it does in ours, for you have your own triumphs which overshadow ours in your mind. However, I am very happy to wel- come you to share this hour of triumqhw-our Commencement--with us. Thank you. ---Elinor Thomas

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4 Cvaledictory, There is only one person who can us and that person is the individual fluence us by what they say or do, but our minds what we shall do and what we cont.l decide each of these things for himself. Other people may in- only we, ourselves, can make up shall be. In ourselves, our future lies--not just our future,but the future of our local community,our national community,and our world community. Knowing we have some of us what choose for us. Many times our decisions are very this increases the importance of the decisions we must make.Do any help in making these decisions? Hidden down in everyone is the Divine--our help. Our conscience will guide us and tell is right: then we must choose to do our best. No one else can hard to make, and then again we may not like to do what we must. But unless we do our own work,no one else will do it for use I recently read a quotation of Thomas Henry Huxley. Ho said, nPerhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do,when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not: it is the first lesson that ought to be learned: and however probably the last lesson that he each and everyone of us and again early I say a man's training begins, it is learns thorough1y.n This applies to nln ourselves,our future lies.W In closing, I would like to quote this poem called WYou,N written by an anonymous poet. I think it presents a challenge to each one of 115. You are Whether You are Whether Whether the fellow who has to decide you'll do it or toss it aside. the fellow who makes up his mind you'll lead or will linger behind, you'll try for the good that's afar, Or be contented to stay where you are. Take it or leave it -- There's something to do. Just think it over -- It's all up to you.' ---Doris Mae Soliday