Hodgdon High School - Aurora Yearbook (Hodgdon, ME)

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'1-HE AURORA -r L 8 1 pen of time on character. Parents, Relatives and Friends-We can never repay you for the sacrifices which you have made in order that we might attend High School, and we hope that some day we will be able to show you that these sacrifices have not been made in vain. Schoolmates--Our associations with you have been pleasant and helpful. We sincerely hope that the friendships formed here will stand the test of time. And now, Classmates-We as the first class who have spent our four years at Hodgdon High School should endeavor to reflect the ideals which have been up- held here. Tonight as we are about to embark on the great sea of life, having safely passed through our four short years in High School, we realize that our troubles and difficulties have not been as great as they seemed. We are better equipped and prepared to meet the prob- lems which will arise, we have attained the goal for which we were strivingg the clouds have passed away and the sun of success seems shining brightly upon us. May we not, however, be content to stop here but let us press on and endeavor to find the place in the world which is meant for us, earnestly striving to fill that place to the best of our ability. THELMA ELIZABETH TURNEY. THE SALUTATORY Members of the school board, teachers, parents, friends, and schoolmates, we cordially welcome you here tonight. We feel that we have much to thank each one of you for. If it had not been for you, it would never have been possible for us, to 1' make our way through High School. We are now entering the wider field of life. May we be better fitted to make our lives what they should be, because we have had the benefit of your influence and training. Members of the school board, to you we give many thanks. Teachers, we thank you for the great patience you have had these last four years. We may have seemed very ungrate- ful at times, but we appreciate all that you have done for us. Parents, you especially have made it possible that we might enjoy the benefits and privileges of a high school training. VVe thank you from the bottom of our hearts. May we be worthy of the sacri- fices you have made for us, and repay you by working hard and making good. Schoolmates, we have enjoyed your fel- lowship these past four years. Many times you have helped us out of difficulties and we wish you the best of success in the coming years. XVe consider you all, school board, teachers, parents, and schoolmates-all friends. As friends we welcome you. We feel that with your continued friendship we can climb the ladder of life, straight up until we reach the shining goal of success. Perhaps it would be well to stop for a moment and consider just what this suc- cess means. I wonder just how many think of success in terms of dollars and cents, stocks and bonds, fame, or some other material recompense. To me, success consists of two main issues. First, character. If, when a man gets old, he looks back over his life and hnds that he has so built his character that he has been able to help some one else along their life's journey he may feel that he has not lived in vain.

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' HODGDON HIGH SCHOOL 1 4' -r I this lessonwafter the clouds, the sunshine. Can we not apply this lesson to the school of life? VVhat do we consider as clouds in our life? Does obedience to our parents seem easy for all of us or do we consider some of the restrictions placed upon us as clouds? Do school tasks not burden us at times and weigh heavily upon our minds like clouds of oppression? Do we not often feel that we are misunderstood? As we grow older, however, We learn to appreciate the values of parents and home. VV e also gain a certain amount of knowledge. VV e have a better understand- ing of life in general and we realize that rules are necessary for success in life. Now let us consider this subject from a different view point. Early in youth we learn that we cannot have everything we want. VVe also learn that self denial helps to form good character. If we learn to think of others and of how we can help them in our youth, we have less to learn when we enter the larger Fields of life. XYe also realize that we are much happier when we are serving others. Wfhen unforeseen obstacles arise and obstruct our pathway or when invisible powers are apparently combined to pre- vent us from carrying out plans that in our estimation, are important, we often fail to realize that all things work to- gether for good. Later we see that our plans, if carried out, would have resulted in disaster, and we rejoice that destiny or fate, call it what you may, took a hand in our affairs and saved the day for us. As fate changed the plans of the moun- tain traveler showing him the glories of a scene which he never forgot, so, if we learn to be content with our position in life and to consider our hardships and trials as testing places, if we are patient and strive to overcome these obstacles, fate may open to us new vistas of beauty and halJpiness-sunshine after clouds. As an example of one who met the test in spite of overwhelming odds against her l would use Fanny J. Crosby, the Writer of many of the hymns with which We are all familiar. She was blind, as most of you know, but did she complain and rebel at the misfortune which had befallen her? No! she spent her time in trying to be of service to others instead of pitying her- self and bewailing her sad lot. It is well known that, in spite of her great handicap she was very successful. Let us try, therefore, to follow her ex- cellent example, bear our burdens cheer- fully and be of service to others. And now comes the hardest task of all. Most things are more deeply sincere if they are simply said. We have come to the close of our high school associations with you whom we have co1ne to realize are our friends, and although graduation is always looked forward to with great joy. when the time actually arrives the feeling of joy is greatly lessened by the sadness of parting with teachers, school- mates and classmates. Superintendent and members of the School Board-To you we give our deep- est thanks for your co-operation and the support which you have given us during our four years in High School. We feel sure that you will be as helpful to the classes yet to come as you have been to us. Teachers-We cannot express in words how deeply appreciative we are for your guidance and many kindnesses. We can best express our appreciation by our con- tinued loyalty to the ideals which you have held before us. This We will ever strive to do and in future years may our records show our gratitude written by the

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L 'r What must we have to build a good character? Several things come to my mind. First, I think of kindness. If we expect our lives to be successful we must have regard for someone else besides our- selves, and not be afraid to put ourselves to some inconvenience to help someone in need. Kindness never harms one. It may seem sometimes that we do not get much thanks for what we do but we get a secret satisfaction that is worth more than all the vocal praise could possibly be worth. For example take Abraham Lin- coln. VVhen he saw a pig stuck in the mud he was unable to go on, conscience clear, until he found means to get it out upon solid ground again. His inborn kindness makes him dearer to the hearts of Amer- ican people than all of his executive skill. Next comes honesty. Honesty to one's fellow men and to oneself. If a person gets in the habit of not being strictly honest in everything, if he lets little things slip and thinks that they are of no ac- count, he will soon find that men do not trust him. But on the other hand, if he proves true in every test, he will be looked upon as one who will not fail even in small matters. He must also be honest with himself. If when he does something a bit out of the way, he lies to himself and does not pay attention to what his conscience tells him, he will soon not hesi- tate to do other things which would tend to weaken his character. Let us take heed of the story of George Wasliiiigton and the colt. He obeyed the dictates of his conscience in even this, a matter of seem- ingly so little consequence. His is a model for honesty. One of the foundations of character is reverence, reverence to man and to God. The fruits of such reverence are many. F rom reverence to God we get an appre- HODGDON HIGH scHooL l 9 l Qu ciation of the values of life, and a calm confidence in the Supreme Being which helps us over the troubled seas of life. To revere man, means to respect his laws, to respect our obligations to him as a brother. In short reverence to man is only a sense of deep responsibility on our part to always do our best, in things both great and small. Such reverence begets respect, honor, friendship, character. The road to character is not an easy one. There is no elevator to lessen the steepness of the way. We must plod on, day by day building our characters with each deed we perform, each word we speak, yes, and even each thought we think. It is a difficult task. How many fall by the wayside with the self-excusing phrase, What's the use ? The cement of all things worth building is perseverance. High ideals are but empty air castles if we have not the perseverance to pave our way to them. Many must have been the hours when only perseverance led Thomas Edison on. VVhat have been the fruits of his unwillingness to give up? The electric lamp which illuminates the world, the phonograph which binds us to- gether by sound, the whole world over. To be a real success, one must have built a strong and fine character. But the coin of success is the golden nugget of friendship. Quantity cheapens the value of anything. Real friends are priceless, they are few. 'fLike diamonds they are, both precious and rare-false friends are like autumn leaves, found everywhere. Can we find a better example of success than Helen Keller? I think not. Kind and reverent she has won her way, though blind, through perseverance, to the pin- nacle of success. She possesses the respect, admiration and love of the world. Her purse of success is filled with real friends.