Sheffield High School - Sentinel Pines Yearbook (Sheffield, MA)

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1945 :or buccess Ambition and Determination is Necessary Parents, Teachers, Friends and Classmates: Welcome to these graduation exercises of the Class of 1945. I, personally, am honored to have been chosen to welcome you on behalf of this class to these festivities, the prospects of which have, during the last twelve years, shone so brightly in our minds. As we passed from grade to grade, always in the far future could be seen the vision of being a part of this memorable occasion. This is the goal we set for ourselves long ago, and, with the help of you, parents, teachers and friends, we have finally reached it. All of us join in expressing our sincere thanks and appreciation. We are typical of thousands of other high school classes who are graduating this spring all over this great country of ours. We enter a world torn by the horrors of war, an era of great reconstruction and momentous decisions. We realize that now we must take our places in the ranks and advancement depends greatly on ourselves. We feel confident in our own ability and in our leaders who, also, have traveled this way through our great system of public education to build and preserve this great nation — of the people, by the people and for the people. Most of us already have hopes and dreams of what we intend to do. These may sound a bit far-fetched if spoken aloud. Still, in our hearts we know that someday we will realize them. It takes much ambition and determination to carry them out. But, with ambition and determination to aid us, we shall attain our goal. Yes, we are dreamers. Let us consider for a moment the world of today .built on the dreams of yesterday. Weren ' t our modern conveniences only dreams at first? Didn ' t many important men and women of these United States, as well as the rest of the world, first build their careers from dreams? Take our own country, for example. Wasn ' t it brought up to its present standards by the realized dreams of many men down through the years? If these men had lacked the purpose and the resolution to accomplish their ideals, our country would not have become the wonderful nation that it is. Our four years of high school have found a world at war. Our boys are to leave or have already left for the great and important task of making this country safe for the present and future generations of boys and girls — men and women, to keep freedom burning in this great land where boys and girls can dream and where dreams, unlimited, can be fulfilled. We appreciate our opportunities. Some of us one day may become noted. The majority of us, come what may, will be up right, God fearing citizens, and will contribute to the good of both family and community life. After these twelve years of learning we well know that there is equal opportunity for all kinds of people in this country. We seize the opportunities offered us. We go out into the world to seek a job suited us personally — one which will bring happiness or at least contentment. The first or second attempts may not produce success, but, again, we try until we find something really satis- factory. Then we settle down to do our best. We shall not be satisfied with a job only half done or one done carelessly, therefore, we work long and hard. Still, if the result is a job well done, we forget the long hours of work and remember only the fact that we did it and did it well. It has been proven, time and again, that this pleasure, felt as a result of our efforts and hard work, is the most satisfactory payment of all. Nothing can quite equal it. When we stop to consider, we can see that it is up to each one of us, individually, to make something of ourselves. Our dreams are important and should be considered seriously when deciding what our future is to be. Many times our idle fancies can be turned into realities which prove to be better than we ever thought possible. Along with these thoughts we should have ambition to make us want to climb the ladder of success plus the determina- tion to keep on in the face of all obstacles until we reach the top rung and then keep our place firmly there. We should have the will to really go out and do something ourselves instead of sitting around waiting for others to help us while we do nothing at all.

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1945 Graduation Exercises SHEFFIELD HIGH SCHOOL June 20, 1945 Processional (Audience standing) Invocation Rev. Edward K. Thurlow Salutatory — Ambition and Determination Are Necessary for Success Ethel Wanger Valedictory — Not for School, but for Life We Learn Ruth L. Stevens Song: Song of Friendship Randolph Senior Class and Glee Club Graduation Address, The Future for High School Graduates, Br. Grover C. Bowman President, State Teachers ' College North Adams Song: To Greet the Spring Mendelssohn Senior Class and Glee Club Presentation of P.T.A. Awards Mrs. Ned Bartholomew, President Sheffield P.T.A. Association Presentation of Scholastic Awards William J. Hartley, Principal Presentation of Diplomas John Somes, Superintendent of Schools Song: Speed Our Republic (Audience standing) All Benediction (Audience seated) Rev. Edward K. Thurlow Recessional (Audience remain seated)

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1945 Finally, maj I say here, let us be thankful we are Americans, free to follow whatever life work we choose in whatever manner we see fit, free to enjoy all the peaceful and happy privileges of living in a country where ideals may be realized. Our work here is ended. We are happy with the bright and hopeful thoughts of the future, but, at the same time, saddened by the thought that no more will these halls echo to our footsteps. None of us will ever forget all you have done to help us on our journey. Ethel Wanger Not for School, But for Life We Learn The Senior class of 1945 has chosen for its motto Not For School, But For Life We Learn. We will go from here tonight to apply the knowledge we have acquired in school to our life work. Changes are taking place around us constantly and we must be prepared for these changes — be ready to meet them and know how to deal with them. Education has been generally accepted as just something to prepare a young man or woman to better understand one another. At no other period in the history of the United States has education been more important than it is at the present time. Today students are taught how to win and maintain peace, how to make the world a better, safer, and finer place in which to live. Tonight we do not know what the future has in store for us. There are endless possi- bilities which lie ahead. In the world today it is possible for a person to become famous while still in his or her youth. Others may become wealthy, and others will be successful in business or profession. As long as the war continues we cannot further our own personal interests. Some of us will go into the armed forces — as some already have — some will go on to further their education, and others will accept positions that are necessary and im- portant to the winning of the war. We must learn not to envy others for what they have and are able to do, but try to reach higher levels ourselves. If we are taught that war is the only way to survive, we will learn to hate and hatred can mean only one thing — there will be wars and dictatorships and no peace. On the other hand, if we learn that peace, freedom, and the right to question and criticize are first in our lives, we will better understand and get along with each other. When this war is won, we must take into consideration the problems of our Allies as well as the problem of dealing with the conquered countries. Actually America is relatively young among the nations of the world, yet the greatest concentration of wealth and power is found in the United States. We will have much to say as to the peace terms and we shall see to it that they are fully enforced. Those of us who graduate from high school today will have a vital part in seeing that there is not another war twenty or thirty years from now. After Wor ld War I the United States was not interested in the affairs of England, France, and the vanquished countries. Wilson introduced the League of Nations, but the American people had no wish to become a party to an organization which could have been worthwhile in the maintenance of peace if there had been some strong country behind it to enforce the laws and regulations of the League. The youth of today must see that the peace terms are enforced, respected, and obeyed. C expect our country to do this and we will play our part, however small it may be. We do not go to school in our childhood years just to pass the time away until we must go out into the world and earn our way. In school we learn to respect the ideals of others, we are t might to he considerate and appreciative of our fellow beings. We are taught discipline, duty, and honor. We become less self-centered in our thoughts- we learn to think of others first, how we can benefit the majority and not just our group or ourselves. While we are in high school, we usually choose our life work. We take up specialized courses