Milton High School - Blue Gold Yearbook (Milton, VT)

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14 Blue and ,Q-old VALEDIC T UR Y BY BETTY Parents, Teachers, Classmates, and Friends: Tonight is a night of farewells. Our little boat is resting at the bend in the stream. We have reached the Commencement, or turning point in the deep and unknown channels of life. We are pausing here at the bend to bid farewell, and to muster our strength for the work ahead. The voyage of life has many windings and turnings, and it is sometimes difficult to realize just how many more obstacles we must face. As we row through the waters, it seems like a long course to follow, never knowing what is around the next bend. We are frequently tempted to let our little boat drift wheresoever it may. It is pleasant to pause here at the bending of the stream, and recall the calmness of the school- ripples through which we have been rowing. We cannot linger here long, however, for already the noise and roar of life's larger waters are call- ing us. We know that we must row ahead out of the peaceful, shallow current of our young life, where we have been so ably guided, and pull hard through the deeper and rougher channels of future life. Tonight marks the end of formal schooling for some, while for others it is just a pause before going on to a higher education at college. In the former case, it does not mean that the devel- oping of the mind through learning must stop. We must keep alive the urge to learn and never become so contented that we consider ourselves fully educated. For those of us that are going on to college, we should only have thanks in our hearts for those who have made this possible. Before we leave these protective portals to- night, we wish to thank our parents, guardians and friends. For many happy years, our parents and teachers have carefully sheltered us from adverse wind. They have warned us of the evil rocks and shoals or tangle of sea-weed that we will be sure to meet in our onward course. If they had not given us this guidance, our start on the voyage of life might have been saddened by many disasters. We want you to know how much we appreciate your loving thoughtfulness before we sail onward to the sea of larger life awaiting us. And thus classmates, we linger at the bend of the stream-the end of our course. So far, we have pursued our course together, but now we must row forth alone into the deeper chan- nels to come. Let us, as the billows of life force us apart, keep our Blue and Gold ever flying at the masthead. We want to face these deeper channels bravely and boldly. We want to hold our principles and honor high. With the help of our parents and friends, we feel quite capable of accomplishing all the tasks that we shall meet. YVe will show the world as we step out into its fields of endeavor that we are the materials of which the best citizens and truest patriots are made. . c t - J-ss--- '54 ,We cj! 'M-ixij-f4 2391 j

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ue and Gold 13 9 Class Poem Classmates. we know 11ot the road before us, Nor the turn in the lane aheadg lt's a long alluring journey XVhich henceforth we must tread. Our ways will bc many and varied, Successes toned with defeat- lt takes all kind of experiences To make a life time complete. There'll be joy sweet to rememberg Therell be sorrows best to forgetg YVaiting for us down lifeis highway, YVhich weve scarcely traveled as yet. In our storeroom of memories These school days will be held dear- The wonderful times at M. H. S., And the lessons we have learned here. Nor shall we forget our teachers, XVhose patience wc've put to the testg As we become older and Wiser, NVQ-'ll realize that they were the best. This close group will soon be parted, Then wc'll each go our own wayg Nlay the new friendships of tomorrow Not weaken the ones of today. Though we know not the road before us What's between here and the setting sung VVe,ll do our best to live life fully, For we know it has barely begun. CONNIE JACKSON mln: A nina - mln: l .--ii EEF . an Q!! 2 VIN!!!FIN!!lll!!.Vll.1'l.lVNNlI.'lI.Y.Vlll.!' fir all

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Blue and Gold 15 AL T A T UR Y BY Friends, it is my privilege to welcome you here tonight to see us graduate. I am very grate- ful for this honor given me. It is a great pleasure for us to see you here and to know that you care enough to come and see us embark in that world in which you are veterans. We hope you will be as happy to see us join you outside our nar- row walls as we are to do it. We have enjoyed high school but know that life is not static. There are more experiences awaiting us. To thine own self be true, and it must follow as night the day. Thou cansit not then be false to any man! What straight forward and worthy ad- vice that is! Shakespeare gave that advice to his son. Surely advice from such a great man to his son might well be worth while for us to consider. Can there be any more worthy advice for a high school graduate? In my opinion there canit be. Let us go into the subject a little. just what does this mean? Of course, it will not mean just the same to everyone and might not even to any two of you, but I think it probably would bring to each some measure of self-confidence. How often we plan to do something which we know we should do and find ourselves influ- enced otherwise by a friend who cannot know how much it means to us that we follow our con- science! That is not being true to ourselves is it? A little later we begin to think of the job which ought to be all done-maybe it is a bed- room which needs cleaning or an apology which should have been made-whatever it is, it both- ers our conscience and brings our irritable side foremost. We snap at a friend and hurt his feelings. One cross word may bother him more than we know-maybe just enough to put him too into a vile mood. What a succession of in- stances could occur. This is just one example and may wander a bit, but think-if in the first place we had kept our own council-all that might have been omitted. Isnit it better, if we have convictions and believe them to be good and sound, to follow them and not let a chance word of a friend or acquaintance lead us astray. Faith in oneis self is the root of all other faiths. The lack of it can paralyze a life. Of course, it is natural to have nervous moments. Everyone who has spoken in public knows the panic that occurs just before the occasion, and we are told that the best actors are those who are most nervous before the curtain goes up. There is always the fear that lines will be forgotten, that something will go wrong, and yet the play goes on, usually without a hitch. The same preliminary lack of confidence attends accomp- lishment known to man. But if we all succumb- ed to such misgivings, nothing would ever be done. The best way is to forget doubts and set about the task in hand. If you are doing your best, you will not have time to worry about failure. What is more necessary to a human being than self-respect and how can any person have self-respect unless he is true to himself and his fellow men. Only if we keep our morals high, our minds clean and our brains at work, can we respect ourselvesg only if we respect ourselves can we respect others. Without respect for others, how can we live with them happily and usefully on this earth. To thine own self be true-Thou cans't not then be false to any mann. This seems to me im- portant advice to follow as we begin our lives outside the protecting walls of school. Now we must meet our problems by ourselves without the kindliness and guidance of our parents and teachers always at hand. Following this advice of Shakespeare, we might be a little less apt to go astray.