Hillhouse High School - Elm Tree Yearbook (New Haven, CT)

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Foreword We, the members of the graduating class of 1956, have seen our high school days pass swiftly. Our three years at Hillhouse have given us a new perspective toward life. We have been faced with many decisions, and sometimes we have failed to make the right ones. With our failures, however, has come the determina- tion not to make the same errors again. XVe think that we have grown in wisdom and faith. When first we came to Hillhouse, outwardly assured yet inwardly doubtful, we were unaware of the many problems which awaited us here. YVe began life timidly in this hub of activity, certain that we would never even be able to find our way around the building, much less become active members of our class. Soon, however, the confusion of those first days was replaced by a new sense of confidence that grew with each day. Those who became class leaders, whether through their scholastic abilities, athletic prowess, or natural qualities of leadership, found a new type of faith. On the athletic fields and courts, and at the meetings of the Student Council, Senior Executive Board, and the various other class organizations, they learned that, through faith in themselves, they could justify the trust and belief of others. Others of us, less prominent perhaps in the school group but just as important a part of the school community, have seen faith in action at home and in school. The guidance and help which our teachers and parents have given us in all situa- tions, large or small, have instilled in us a deep faith in them, and in the prepara- tion they have given us for the world we are about to enter. Whether our chosen profession takes us on higher education, to office or secretarial work, to the armed services, or to a trade, we will need all of our resources to attain our goals. VVe will need, above all, faith in ourselves, in the rest of mankind, and in God. The members of the 'il-Elm Treev board wish to thank their faculty advisors: Mr. Robert E. Gosselin, chairman, Mr. Albert Gray, assistant chairman and photography, Miss Alice H. Hogan, literary, Miss Eva Welch, art, Miss Lillian Griffith, business, and Miss Elizabeth Malone, junior board, for their gracious and untiring aid in the publication of this book. 10

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FAITH hy NIICHAEIL COLD The prerequisite of all achievement is faith. Whether one has faith in God, faith in mankind, or just faith in oneis self is of little consequence, for these are all collateral and interdependent. Conversely, the antonym of faith, fear, is the antagonist of achievement, and one can not tolerate the other. Men, like nations, are no greater than the faith which supplies their in- centive. However, one must he extremely careful when choosing the ideas upon which he will base his faith. A recent example of the consequences resulting from misplaced faith can he seen in Nazi Germany, Where a nation put its faith in an idea formulated in a distorted mind, and was utterly defeated. In our highly competitive economy, self-confidence is an integral part of the personality of anyone who Wants to nget aheadf, There is little that is denied to the person who helieves in himself. As Virgil once said. They can because they think they canf, It must not he assumed, however, that self-confidence is the only require- ment for success. One may prosper for a while, as did Hitler, hut Without faith in Cod, all is ultimately in vain. ln fact, all that is really necessary is faith in Cod, for faith in mankind and helief in oneis self follow this naturally. Today we stand on the threshold of the Atomic Age. The door has been opened to an idea which will carry us either to heights never even imagined, or to the depths of destruction. The faith of todayis youth will be the determining factor. Trust in the Lord, and do good,- And He shall give thee the petitions of thy heartf, 37th Psalm, 3-4 12