Junction High School - Golden Eagle Yearbook (Junction, TX)

Page 33 text:

REMINDED of hor speech, Dani Thomson grimaces at the thought and Sandra Martin changes subjects in the conversation. ACCEPTING his diploma, Ladd Campbell is congratulated by Mr. Rob Roy Spiller, school board vice-president. READY TO FACE the world, Leonard Gauna returna to hia aeat after receiving his diploma.

Page 32 text:

Point Of No Return Here we sit. A small group with a big obligation, a very small fraction of a new generation. We the senior class of 1984 are here tonight with our feet on the threshold of life. Tonight we graduate from the hallways of carefree childhood into the vast adult world of responsibility. A world in which the biggest respon- sibility we have is the one we owe ourselves. It is an obligation to ourselves to set goals and reach for them. We owe it to ourselves to be the best that we can be. Settling for half best will not and should not satisfy us. We have been well prepared for this challenge by our school and greatly encouraged by our society. As an unknown poet once said: “It takes a little courage and a lit- tle self control, and some grim determination if you want to reach your goal. No one will say that the road to success is easy. Every day we will have to find it in ourselves to get up and go to class or to work. No longer will we have someone telling us what to do or not to do. Again, the unknown poet says: “It takes a great deal of striving, and a firm and stern-set chin, No matter what the battle if you're out to win.” It really makes no difference what we aim to be, as long as we strive to be the best at it. We are the future professionals, laborers, and homemakers of our society. And with these titles come an obligation. An obligation to be the best we can be whatever title we have. There are many battles we are going to have to fight. But as long as we believe in ourselves, there is nothing to keep us from winning. The doorway we are passing through is a one way class door. Now that we have passed through it, there is no turning back. The door is made of glass so that we can always reflect on the past. But it does not open from this side for we can never return to the past. High school is only a memory now, one which we wish to keep forever. — Dani Thomson Valedictorian Graduation

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RELIEVED that the ceremony was over, WITH DIPLOMA in hand, Dana Renea Vicente Menchaca talks with triends. Mantooth drinks punch and tries to relax. Top Ton Soniort Dam Thomoon 96.83 Shelly Spiller 95.38 ‘Al Campbell 91.77 Jay Caahman 91.56 Lamey Murtf 89.06 Sandra Martin 87.39 Kim Hooker 86 76 Kem Schwartz 86.59 Sheri Templeton 86.59 Clinton McDonald 84.26 Not eligible tor honora since foreign ex- change student ‘Look At Us Now’ You've come tonight to the graduation of the senior class of Junction High School 1984. It’s a spectacular thing that you’re here, for you will watch your sons and daughters (or the children of your friends and neighbors) take an enormous step out of the here and now into the space where our destiny lies. How often you’ve watched us walk (or crawl or fall) and have ap- plauded or wiped away tears and have set us on our feet again. Well, look at us now, just ready to take one enormous step ... ‘‘Mother, may I?” Yes, like the children’s game, we need to check and see if what we’re about to do with our lives and dreams is really all right with you, for we would not be in this place tonight if you had not spent precious time, love, and effort to get us here. Young adults are notorious for not ever saying to their parents what they really feel. Please listen closely because I do intend to share with you our innermost thoughts. We do want you to know that we are genuinely appreciative of the sup- port that our families and this com- munity have given us. Your volunteer work in churches, schools, and in community ac- tivities gave us a basis in religion, ethics, values, morals, teamwork, pride, ambition, and strength. You have touched our lives with gentle hands and have looked on us with loving eyes. We know that the world at large will not deal that gently with us, and therefore, the memory of you will strengthen us in other times. Look at us now ... We are ready for a new challenge, somewhat frightened, filled with a bitter sweet nostalgia. We have to go. Thank you for loving us enough to en- courage us to walk on our own and for letting us go without making us feel guilty. We pause once again in this familiar place, on a familiar porch looking at the door that always opened in to love and home. Yes, we are somewhat puzzled to realize that now it opens out. You’ve helped us pack up knowledge and memory and we’re ready now for destinations not quite clear, for dreams not fully formed. Look at us now ... like Emily said in Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, ‘‘Oh Mamma, just look at me one minute as though you really saw me ... Mamma, just look for a moment we’re happy. Let’s look at one another.” Welcome to our next new step and thank you for all the stairs, rough paths, and ladders we climbed in the past. — Shelly Spiller Salutatorian Graduation