Mack School of Nursing - Yearbook (St Catherines, Ontario Canada)

Page 34 text:

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Your journey began two years ago when you entered the nursing programme, having made a decision to further organize your lives and develop your capacities. At the onset, your in- experienced steps were slow and hesitant. Little by little, you gained in assurance and, as initial insecurity lessened, you became a more confident traveller in the realm of nursing. For teachers, it was gratifying to see with what rapidity you extracted from everything — books, people, films, quiet conversation, random phrases, encounter with persons experi- encing the pains and joys of living — what was needed to sustain you during difficult and joyous moments on the road of educational experience. Amid gentle encouragement, you proceeded with an increasingly calm, unconquerable and assured spirit. Throughout the past two years, you have had to persevere long in your learning and adapt to varying situations re- maining firm in your direction and correct in your goals. Often, you had to channel energies according to the Tightness of things and timeliness of action rather than to wishful thinking or preferences. Soon you will approach the launching zone . You do so in the spirit of the true inquirer who believes in intellectual honesty and who remains humble enough to realize that there is still much for all of us to learn. When you depart, we trust that you will continue to be flexible and assertive according to the demands of duty and tenor of the times. As you move forward into the next phase of life experience, we wish for you health — the groundwork of all happi- ness — and the quality of involvement in the realm of human experience which includes meaningful encounter and change. This encounter will happen in a world in which almost every truth is being questioned — an uneasy world which needs people who care about dignity, respect, feelings, pride, individuality, and personal worth. Caring will de- mand active involvement and an unselfish giving of yourselves to those for whom you care. You have travelled admirably with steadfast determination overcoming obstacles during your formal nursing prepara- tion. We are proud of you and your accomplishments. Our continued wishes for you are that you experience satisfaction and fulfillment in your personal and professional lives and that life gives you the freedom and courage, to Love the beautiful Seek out the true Wish for the good And the best do, (Moses Mendelssohn) Affectionately .. (Mrs. ) Mary Sirotnik and Teachers of Term 11 30