Ripon High School - Mission Yearbook (Ripon, CA)

Page 6 text:

We Dedicate This Book To You You Written especially for you by Ella jo Velthoen Sometimes you feel you've never been complete, For life is filled with fears. Your questions go unanswered, And haunt you through the years. Kindergarten, oh so lonely, Strange faces all around. You listen to her stories, Your blanket on the ground. First grade is filled with wonder, As games and Share and Tell. Second grade you learn sweet songs, And play Farmer in the Dell. Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth grade, You know who is your friend. Seventh and Eighth grade, This all comes to an end. Freshman year you're lonely, You've hit the bottom now. They tell you to go away, You don't ask why but how. Your football team is bad, They don't know how to play. They seem to look worse, Each and everyday. The girls look at you strangely, The boys they make fun. And you count the seconds, Until this day is done. You don't dress like upperclassmen, You seem to have no style. And no one knows your name, They even lose your file. You sing off key in Glee, And don't know the school cheer. You're out of step while marching, And welcome end of year. Sophomore year has to be bette You think you have the feel. And there are other Freshmen, So now you're the big wheel. Now you have courage, To even go on a date. Go to a dance at the gym, But you have a flat, you're late make your first speech, stutter, you get dry. learn to hate your English, skip your class and lie. get to meet new teachers, ask too much from you. You You You You You Who And when you do your best, They give you more to do. Your hair grows just perfect, Although you can not see. The teachers say cut it, But you protest, It's Me. Of course you're older now, And in your Junior year. You are popular, interesting, Having all friends near. You find you're lonely, There's so much for you to do. You have a real love one, And things are right for you. Your class holds the bonfire, It must be ninety feet tall. rs Your King and Queen get the votes, At the K-Q ball. The Homecoming parade is rained out,

Page 5 text:

Mission '73 Table of Contents Dedication .......... pa ge 2 Student Body 81 Learn'ed Leaders ..... page 4 In School- Out of School ...... page 40 Advertisements ........ page 84 MISSION Staff Editor: John Mangelos Asst. Editor Sz Photographer: Lawrence Palmaymesa Business Manager: Michael Fassler Copy: Karen Carson 8: Allyn Wood Asst. Business Manager: Darlene Doty

Page 7 text:

It happens every year. But your class float wins the prize, You celebrate with a beer. You hold the J -S Prom, The hall looks like a mess. You scrimp with every penny, lt's New Orleans, more or less. Who didn't get the plants, You feel some are gone. So you run off to a quiet place, And get some funeral lawn. The awning starts to droop, It's only 5 past 4. The paper that was the sky, ls suddenly the floor. The wishing Well is too big, It can't fit through the door. The angel oan't be lifted, It weighs a ton or more. You scream We've got no time, And we need someone now. Suddenly it's finished and perfect, You don't know why or how. You're Seniors now and wiser, You feel you've just begun. You look back at the times, The hard days and fun. Your days are all too short, Some guys go off to war. You wave good-bye to them, Will you see them anymore ? Your grades are pretty fair, You understand your math. You can take or leave school, You can take any path. Your face is much older, You have the taste of life. Your best friend leaves you, To take a husband or wife. Sometimes you think of college, You think of all your dreams. You watch the guys in P. E. You see your football teams. Gee, teachers aren't half bad, Some are pretty smart. You see the years of teaching, And they grow near your heart. Graduation's almost here , Seems it came too fast. They read the names off slowly, They stumble on your last. You sing the school song, You stand up with your friends. They say this is just the start, But really it's the end. Good-byes are said softly now, You smile and speak. Words were never good with you, Your voice is low and weak. You'll come back here no more, There is no real reason. Your team is split up, There's no more football season. They say you were the best, The school has ever had. And you should be happy, But you feel strangely sad. There will be more to take your place, More shall walk these halls. But it will end for them as you, Once they have passed these walls You watch your friends walk away, They are women, They're men. You smile as they pass you by, And you're alone again. . . . . . . About the Author: Ella s maiden name is Mangdos and she graduated from R.U.H.S. in 1967