Medina High School - Medinian Yearbook (Medina, OH)

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Class President s Address As president of the Class of 1923, I wish to extend to you a most cordial welcome to these our Commence- ment exercises. Even as I welcome you, I feel that in a greater sense you too, are welcoming us into the new adventure of life which awaits us. To have this welcome from you is indeed gratifying; for what more than this could we desire, as we commence this new life that lies before us ? Our twelve years of public school training are end- ed; we now cast away our High Sc hool privileges and pleasures and are prepared and eager to enter upon a greater field of endeavor; to take upon ourselves larger responsibilities, and to assume the graver burdens which we must take upon ourselves as we leave the High School so dear to us. Hereafter, we shall retain only the delightful mem- ories of these instructive and enjoyable school days. In completing our high school course, we have avail- ed ourselves of a privilege which is the right of every boy and girl. The Nation has come to demand that at least a majority of its people must have a high school education thus providing the intelligent citizenship neces- sary to insure the future welfare of our country and its institutions. We have been prepared for our after school life by able and conscientious teachers and supervisors and if we have failed to benefit as we should from our four years of work in high school it is through no fault of our in- structors. They have watched over us, advised and instructed us — they have done everything in their power to develop in us those qualities which we should possess as worthy graduates of Medina High School. We must now leave the old building where we have spent so profitable days; and, in leaving it, we feel as though we were leaving a friend with whom we shall never again be closely associated. In a few days, our class will be broken up and scat- tered but the friendships of the past twelve years will remain with us throughout life. It has been said that “The hills are dearest which our childish feet Have climbed the earliest, and the streams most sweet Are ever those at which our young lips drank — Stooped to the waters o’er the grassy bank.” This may well be said of friendships, and, after to- night, I am sure we shall often look back upon our High School days and yearn for the companionship and the presence of these, our schoolmates, with whom we have had so many thoughts in common in the past twelve years. Will not the many delightful memories of hours spent with our school day friends serve to invigorate and inspire us in our work in the years to come ? As we step forth from school life into the stern realities of life’s school, we may seem to you, somewhat backward and ungainly in the new places which we hope to hold in the practical world; but we beg you, before passing judgment upon us, to give us a little time for readjustment. Nineteen

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Senior Class Poem BUILD FOR CHARACTER, NOT FOR FAME When your day seems over-crowded With the shadows of despair, When the light of life seems shrouded, And temptations everywhere ; Classmates, ere doubt’s flick’ring ember Burns out hope and life’s own flame Take our motto, and remember “Build for character, not for fame.” Does dark gloom lie on the meadow Where bright sunlight ought to fall? Does something cast a shadow That lies brooding over all? Are you sad because of Fortune, Does she fail to speak your name ? Remember then our motto: “Build for character, not for fame.” We could never glimpse the far beam Of attainment through strong light; Fame could not be gained, we now deem If life’s hours were always bright; Don’t play hero just for praise, That, you know, would spoil the game ; But think before a hand you raise — “Build for character, not for fame.” Parting till this hour has never Cast its shadows o’er our class ; But the call has come to sever, And it grieves us as we pass; But o’er the gulf of long departure (Ne’er, perhaps, you’ll hear our name) Will be the tie that binds our future — “Build for character, not for fame.” Eighteen

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You will observe that we have selected for the motto of the class of 1923, “Build for character.” In so doing it is with the realization that moral qualities spring from the heart, not from the head ; that they are rooted in conscience and moral purpose and not in the intellect, and that scholarship and integrity, intelligence and virtue are not synonymous terms. As we go forth from high school, each to his own work, we realize that henceforth, each must build for himself. We hope that in the years to come we may build into our lives the virtues that are truly worth-while and that whatever else we may pro- cure as a result of our efforts, we may possess integrity, initiative, a sense of responsibility, reverence, and such other qualities as will enable us to achieve life in an abundant measure. If we, as a result of our high school education, can go forth into the world and prove our- selves to be real men and women; prove ourselves to be successful as human beings, then, indeed, shall we prove ourselves worthy of the honors conferred upon us tonight. Once again in behalf of the Class of 1923 I bid you welcome. T toenly