Medina High School - Medinian Yearbook (Medina, OH)

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Mitnr Hrpartmntt 3X reached some extraordinary achievement or had not played an important part in the world’s history. What did they do which makes them worthy of note ? They were men of one aim and one purpose. What was this purpose? To benefit others. Then they remained at their task and finally accomplished the end which they were seeking. Columbus, though ridiculed and scorned, was firm in liis belief that India could be reached by sailing west. No obstacle daunted him and at last he made valuable discoveries. William of Orange was a man of one task, that of freeing his Dutch countrymen from the Spanish tyrant Philip II. Even when confronted by the ablest generals of Europe he would not give up but steadfastly clung to his purpose. Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, when he saw the need of the leaderless Protestants, came down to help them. Through his indomitable will and his desire to be of use, he averted the overthrow with which Protes- tantism was threatened in Germany. We could continue naming great men who have become famous because they did not swerve from their purpose, the purpose of helping others. Many men and women have spent lives of service for mankind. Some have done great things like the ones mentioned. Others have done the smaller tasks, yet they are reverenced and honored as much as the ones who have been able to do the larger tilings. Sir Philip Sidney gave his last drink of water to a dying enemy. Sir Walter Raleigh spread his velvet cloak across a mud muddle so that the queen would not get her feet wet. These were little acts, yet they have been remembered for years. What does the name Florence Nightingale suggest? Wealth or fame? No. The very mention of her name suggests helpfulness and gentleness in earing for the sick and wound- ed soldiers. Why is Jane Addams respected and honored today? Because she gave herself and her time to serving other people. The secret of all these lives, whether they did the greater or smaller tasks, was that they did the task which lay immediately before them. Again and again Carlyle says: “ Do thy duty, the duty that lies nearest thee.” This is what these men and women did. To some, great opportunities were presented. They did their duty and accomplished great things. To others, smaller chances were offered. They did their duty and the smaller tasks were done. At any rate, they did not sit idle and do nothing because they could not do the large tasks. There is need of this same spirit today. Not every one can do great services for his fellow-countrymen as did William of Orange or Gustavus Adolphus, but each one is capa- ble of doing the smaller things, as did Sidney and Raleigh. True, we may not have the opportunity to give a dying soldier a drink or to spread a velvet cloak before a queen, but we need and may have the spirit which prompted those men to their acts. At least, let us do something. There is always hope in a man who actually and earnestly works. While we are working, if we do the duty that lies nearest us. we are very sure to be helping some one else, for duties often come in human form. Let us each one do our part. Carlyle says again : “ Produce! Were it but the infinitesimal fraction of a Product, produce it, in God’s name! ’Tis the utmost that is in thee; out with it, then.” Along with the examples already given, this should incite us to do our best even though it may be little. Perhaps some think it not of much importance that another class is graduating from Medina High School. But Medina has been doing a great service to its young people of this and coming generations by providing good schools in which to train them. Some of

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30 Annual GUaaa fhraiiaHtt’a Ahhrraa BY DWIGHT SHEPARD;, JR. In behalf of the class of 1916 1 welcome you to this, our High School commencement. Perhaps at times some of us have felt that it was not worth while and have almost decided to drop out. But I am sure that now not one of us feels that his time has been wasted; for whether we go to college or immediately begin our life work, the little we have learned in this course will be of immeasurable value to us. During our sojourn the school has changed very noticeably. The enrollment has con- tinually increased until this year there were 287 pupils. To keep up with the times the courses have been changed to suit the needs of every one. Formerly only those studies were taught which tended to cultivate the mind and which had no direct application to life, but now there are courses which tit us for work immediately upon leaving school. Domestic science, business courses, and this year manual training, have been addled to the list, so now a pupil may get almost anything he could possibly need. Tonight we receive the certificates which show that we have completed the work and are no longer members of Medina High. We have, mingled with the satisfaction of having accomplished something worth while, a tinge of sadness at leaving, for we can never forget the happy years spent in old M. H. S., and whatever may be our several fates in the future, we can always look back upon this period in our lives with genuine pleasure. We thank the superintendent, who, during our entire course has helped us with good advice and encouragement and has done everything in his power for us and the school. We thank the teachers for their efforts and sacrifices in our behalf. We know that at times we have seemed impossible to them. However, they did not give up trying to teach us conjugations and theorems and other fundamentals, but kept on doing their best, and if we did not appreciate it then, we do now and we thank them for it. We thank the Board of Education for everything they have done in the interest of the betterment of the school, and for all the new courses and equipment they have given us the advantage of using. And we thank you all for your co-operation in maintaining such a good school in the community. (The spirit of S rrutrr BY RUTH HODDINOTT, VALEDICTORIAN The best use any man can make of his life is to spend it in service for others. If a person desires to be remembered long after he is dead, let him do something to stamp himself upon the minds and hearts of mankind. Let him set himself the task of benefiting his fellowmen and there is little likelihood that he will be soon forgotten. This old world has been in existence for thousands of years. No one knows the exact length of time since it began. Think of the countless numbers of people who have lived upon the earth during the centuries. of its life. There are comparatively few of them about whom we know anything. We would never have heard about these feiv if they had not

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32 (TIip Amtrntl us may continue our education by a college course, and some may enter upon life’s duties at once. Some may do the great things and some may do the little things, but we shall all remember that we owe a large part of our success to the people of Medina who made it possible for us to attend a good high school. And so we wish to thank every one who has helped to make Medina High what it is. The board of education has done all in its power to have the school measure up to a high standard of excellence and we express our gratitude to them. We are especially indebted to Mr. Edmund and to all our teachers for their part. We feel that they are really our friends and are willing to help us when we need assistance. Then, too, we want to say “ thank you ” to our parents for we could not have gone to school at all if it had not been for them. They have made it possible for us to spend four happy years here. But most of all, we owe our thanks to God. for “ every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh from the Father of light.” He has watched over us and has brought us to this commencement night and we are grateful. This is a very happy occasion for us. We have completed four years of hard work and have come to the crowning event of our high school course. Tonight we are full of enthusiasm for the tasks that shall come. We know that “ excellence is never granted to mail except as the reward of labor,” so we are willing to work for the successes we hope to obtain. We intend to overcome every obstacle in our way. Each of us feels as Long- fellow did when he said. The star of the unconquered will Arises in my breast. Serene, and resolute, and still, And calm, and self-possessed. ffllaaa ijiatnry BY ELON C. WHEELER We entered Medina High School on September 9. 1912, and our proudest boast is that Mr. Edmund came with us. The only thing that we regret, not as a school but as a senior •class, is that he cannot graduate with us. The first memorable event in our high school career was the forming of a Freshman Literary Society. The officers were: Florence Leach, President, and Helen McDowell, Secertary. The class was then divided into sides A and B. The A’s were victorious and we had our banquet with the upper classes. We had much difficulty in decid ing upon class colors; purple and gold, and black and white being chosen in turn. Finally, realizing the funeral effect a room decorated in the latter would present, we chose pale green and white, and we have since been faithful to this combination. During the Freshman year we had several very enjoyable class parties. One of them was a sleigh ride and oyster supper at Avonell Handchy’s home west of the fair grounds. A year crept on and we again entered high school, not as disconsolate little Freshmen, but as big Sophomores, happy because we now had some one to look down upon. It was a rather quiet year. Our slogan was to work ! work ! work ! However, there were a couple