Mount Royal College - Varshicom Yearbook (Calgary, Alberta Canada)

Page 14 text:

JUNIOR COLLEGE VALEDICTORY I am proud to have the honor of giving this valedictory, and I hope I can do it with humility. It is said that, “Faith blazes the trail, intelligence builds the avenue.” We began our journey along this avenue in various High Schools across the continent and now have travelled together for a time here at Mount Royal. Now we separate to continue our studies down different avenues of learning. We, the 1959 graduating class of Mount Royal College are preparing to take our place as citizens in this disturbed and uneasy world. While here at Mount Royal we have had instilled in us a great desire not only for intellectual advancement but, through classes, clubs, social functions, sports and student councils, we have had a chance to gain a true education in terms of cultural background, practical experience, and per¬ sonal development. We, as students, have at times felt overwhelmed when presented with the task of learning so much. At times I think our teachers have felt concerned with our progress, for they know the value and necessity of the subjects they have taught us, and the high standards which are necessary. For this we should give them our sincere thanks. Without their effort, their concern, their untiring work, their loyalty and faith in us we would not be graduates of Mount Royal College today. Mount Royal is placing its faith in us to uphold the honor and heritage of the college. Some of us will continue to other universities where Mount Royal graduates before us have studied with high honor. Some of us will venture into the business world where Mount Royal graduates are leaders in their field. Wherever we go the avenues ahead will present a personal challenge to all of us. We must have faith in ourselves to meet the problems that lie ahead and be prepared to play our part in solving them. The late Sir Robert Baden Powell (Chief Scout) said “No man can be called educated who has not a willingness and desire, as well as trained ability, to do his part in the world’s work.” Our college has given us our training; the willingness and desire to use it must come from within our¬ selves. Only in this way can we find the main road to happiness, prosperity and contentment. Only in this way can we have faith in ourselves. Only in this way can we justify the faith that our parents, our college and teachers have placed in us. Let us face the future then full of faith, courage, hope and steady hearts and a buoyancy and power to ride out the storms of life. I quote: Come, Courage, come, and lake us by the hand Gird us with faith A radiant faith to see beyond the present And guide us into avenues that are yet to be. Paul Gattey

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HIGH SCHOOL VALEDICTORY THIS IS OUR GRADUATION — Many people have passed through this stage and many more will follow, but how many fully realize what it is. It is not just this one day of your life in which you are being honoured; it is the past, the present and the future. Since we are living in a space minded age I will enlarge upon this statement in terms of rockets and sputnicks. Before anything or anyone can amount to something there has to be a beginning. In the case of the rocket this involves a fundamental knowledge of the project, but where we are concerned it involves a period of finding out just what school is. You remember those days when we used to sing songs, color pictures and play games — poor innocent souls. They surely had us fooled. Following this there are the preparatory stages. The rocket is far from being a reality. The Government has to give the okay; specialists and crews must be found; equipment and testing grounds need to be prepared; everything has to be arranged to prevent a loss in time and money. As for the student, he finds out exactly what he is up against — school is not a game. The third step in the ladder is the preliminary stages. The rocket must be designed, and tests must be made to see if it will stand up under the conditions to which it will be subjected. Similarly, the student comes up against his first real barrier, the grade nine finals. These examinations are a check to make sure that the preliminary studies are taken seriously, thus, giving the student a firm foundation to stand upon before he enters the last lap of his journey. The rocket is now nearing completion; precise tests must be run; final touchups are made; every detail is checked and rechecked; the rocket is ready and waiting. Likewise the student is given a thorough workout. Test after test, essay after essay, review and more review. What used to be a few minutes of homework a night turns out to be a few hours. Twelve years have faded into the past. Back in Grade One it seemed like a lifetime; now it is plain to see that it is only the be¬ ginning of the end. As the rocket is ready for launching, so are we. Even at this stage there are certain condi¬ tions which could postpone the launching. In the case of the rocket, atmospheric conditions and visibility must be favourable before the final countdown. As for us there is only one simple minor detail -—- the Grade Twelve Departmental. IS THIS THE END? Are we finished in a cloud of smoke and a burst of fire? Only you yourself can answer that question. Like the rocket, our path is uncertain; we move cautiously, for one faulty step could carry us off on a tangent— a misfire lost to the world. At this stage, some of us will conclude our formal education. This does not mean that we have failed, it is just a turn in the road. The world offers many kinds of challenges, and to meet these challenges one does not necessarily have to be a skilled technician. It is what you do with what you have, and not what you have to do it with that pays off in the end. We have twelve years of educa¬ tion, but unless we make use of it, even the smallest challenge will buffet us around like a raft on a stormy sea. Like a ship we must use the sea to ride upon — the sea of knowledge, no matter how infinitely small it may be to which Mount Royal College has contributed. For some of us this is only a point in the line, the next point is our first University degree. Beyond this there are new fields and more degrees. No matter how far we travel, our ultimate com¬ prises only a small segment of the line which extends on and on to infinity. The intelligence we bring to bear in our study varies markedly from one individual to the next, but the variation is a matter of degree. All of us are capable of reaching a higher degree through University training, but many of us will fail to do so through lack of trying. In short, an educated man is a man with eyes in a country of the blind. Today, we the Graduates are being honoured. It is a joyful day, yet we must bid a sad fare¬ well to a faithful friend, to Mount Royal College. Three years ago we were just another group of people signing their names on registration sheets. Today we are one large united family — we shared the same hardships and found happiness in one another, but tomorrow our paths must part. Some of us may cling together, and occasionally our paths may cross, but before you leave take one last look at us as a whole, for tomorrow the group will scatter like a broken glass — never again to be united as one. We must say farewell to our teachers who have served us intimately and faith¬ fully. To them, we may be just another graduating class — many have preceded us, and many more will follow. But to us there is only one Graduation; there is only one set of teachers; we are losing a special group of friends who for the last three years have spent their lives guiding us through one of the finest parts of our lives. As Dr. Garden will remain a living memory in the history of Mount Royal College, so will Mount Royal College and the 1959 teaching staff remain a living memory to us, the GRADUATING CLASS. Chris Arctander

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JUNIOR COLLEGE 13