St Josephs High School - Crest / Signet Yearbook (Garrett, IN)

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Thoughts on Graduation Day The appearance of our “Annual” indicates that another year has passed beyond recall. The present time has dif- ferent meanings for different classes of our school, but the past has about the same for each of us. To the seniors the days of commencement are a corner around which lies a dif- ferent life, to the undergraduates they are a milestone. Those leaving the school this year will never be just the same as they have been these many years. The companionship of school mates will gradually be supplanted by friendships formed in business and social life. The tasks of school days will be dismissed and in their places more stern occupations will engage the minds. The guidance of teachers will be a thing of the past and decisions will have to be made with the remembrance of those principles of Christian morality learned throughout the course in our beloved school. Re- sponsibilities will begin to fall on shoulders that heretofore were quite free of them. Parents who have made many sacrifices for long years will now begin to look to their chil- dren for some return for the affection and care that were lavished upon them so freely. The general public will look to these graduates for some contribution to better and hap- pier living, and the Church will see in them new hope for the spread of that philosophy of life that was embodied so well in the Sermon on the Mount. All of this sounds serious and it is. The one who takes his graduation from a Catholic High School in any other light but the serious makes a mis- take, and the penalty for that mistake must be paid by him and by those who had builded their hopes on him. To the undergraduates this day means a promotion to a higher class and a long step toward the time when the things said about the seniors will be true of them. It is a wise boy or girl who tries to understand just what a senior should be and then begins to make himself just that. Far better to dream out the desired accomplishments in advance and then strive for them, than to realize suddenly when it is too late, the real importance of the period of preparation through which he is now passing. The end of a school term should beget a stronger determination to use the next one better. Instead of growing younger and accordingly more irrespon- sible each of us is growing steadily older and must assume the responsibilities of our years. All in all, it means just this, “Time is moving onward, we must move with it. What we wish to be later, we must begin to be now.”

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Valedictory It is said that every rose has its thorn, every joy has its undercurrent of sorrow; certain it is that the Class of 1937 finds the pleasure of achievement dimmed by the severing of school and class companionships. “To the shortest path and the longest lane there comes an end”; inevitable change brings the sweet, sad word—farewell. We leave our school with deep appreciation for the ad- vantages it has given us. Education is capital; by investing it wisely we may become factors in the world’s progress. Modern education seeks to give a three-fold development and send forth students upright in character, vigorous and healthy of body, alert and trained in mind that they may give to life the combined efforts of heart, hands and head. It is our pride that we receive our diplomas of graduation from a school that has given us this valuable training. We leave our school with a high regard for the dignity of labor—the toil of the hands as well as of the head. All labor which tends to supply man’s wants, to increase his happiness or to elevate his nature is honorable. Labor is the mighty magician who advances civilization through the chan- nels of art, science, music and invention. It is the hope of the boys and girls of the class of 1937 that we may join the ranks of the real workers on the field of action, for the life- giving power of education was intended to fit us, not for cul- tivated leisure, but for honorable occupation. Reverend Father, Parents and Teachers: To you we would express our thanks for the privileges you have given us through our school, and for the courtesies extended to our class. Our school has been to us the Bank of Knowl- edge on which we have drawn for funds. Years of the high- est endeavor alone can repay the debt we owe our Alma Mater. We promise to repay these funds by passing on to the world the best efforts of which we are capable. Classmates: Though the time for farewell is at hand and we shall meet no more as seniors, let us not break the ties that have bound us during the happy years of work in dear St. Joseph High. Let us resolve.anew, amid these happy scenes, to fare forth bravely and so to live that we may be proud of each other and that our school may be proud of each and every one of us. Let us be patriotic. Let us remember our class motto “Today we follow tomorrow we lead” and that the young people of today hold in their hands the future of our country. There is a crying need for men and women who are willing to sacrifice their selfish desires for the good of their community and fellowmen. Our country needs citizens who live up to the golden rule seven days in the week ; who lift a helping hand to the other fellow. Let us pay our debt to our school by years of noble living. [19]

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Syarnien Clase History Four years ago troops from St. Joseph’s School arrived to begin a battle that never will be forgotten. Perhaps they were particularly anxious to hear the first bell ring because they had been so successful in their eight years of experience and they were ambitious to show their ability. During the first year, they fought the memorable “Freshman Battle,’ which proved fatal to many of their soldiers. Some were wounded, so only fourteen remained. How they were to face three more years of battle was a problem. Nevertheless, their good teachers encouraged their work by bestowing on them the name of “Sophomore cEroops.- . It must be admitted that the next battle was more diffi- cult, and required more individual strength. Once again victory was theirs, though sad to say, three more fell by the wayside, leaving eleven to finish the battle. For this they were greatly honored by the name “Juniors.” The “Junior Battle’ was the climax of the “war.” They realized that victory would reasonably insure their success. The eleven pushed on to defeat their opponents. Finally. they received the name of “Seniors.” The “Senior Grand Army” consisted of eleven privates. The “Captain” of the army was Miss Victoria Bonkoski, a capable leader. Miss Marvol Smith was elected “Lieuten- ant,’ whose sincere advice was greatly appreciated. To know the battle would soon be over made them very happy indeed. The battle was over. The graduating seniors were vic- torious and the diplomas they sought and se hard for, are theirs forever. “The school will little note nor long remember what we’ say here, but it will always remember what we did here.” VicTorRiA BONKOSKI and Marvoit SMITH. [21]