Steamboat Springs High School - Galleon / Sailors Log Yearbook (Steamboat Springs, CO)

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Ualebittorp Teachers, schoolmates, friends and parents: We are celebrating tonight the commencement of the class of '17. This is one of the largest classes that ever graduated from the Steamboat Springs High School and. we like to think, the best. We have shown tha we were progressive. We presented a class play and the second Annual of this High school. This work is not required for graduation, but wanting S. S. H. S. to be kept in the front rank we have done these things. It may sound as though it were easy, but much work is connected with these enter- prises. The class has been as a whole in giving their best efforts to these projects. We sincerely hope that the school will be able to continue this work. It helps the school and it gives valuable training to-those participating. On the part of the graduates I want to thank all of you for your attendance here tonight and for your hearty support of our Annual and class play. As all Seniors we feel very dignified and I suppose take ourselves too seriously. But if we do not take ourselves seriously how can we expect anyone else to? And why take the joy out of us by bringing us back to earth? We will probably land with a jolt pretty soon anyhow, so let us be happy in our own way. While we are glad to be out of High school and ready to take a more important part in the world yet this is done not altogether with pleasure, but also in sadness. How we regret leaving our High school! We have had a pleasant time together and it is indeed hard to think of leaving our old associates. However this is necessary as we realize that we have received enough from others and it is now our duty to work for ourselves. Little did we think in dreaming of the joys of graduation that the parting would be so difficult. A great debt of gratitude is owed to the Board of Education who have taken time from their business to look after the welfare of the school. They are doing a great service to mankind in their efforts to see that all may have an education. By this means they are raising the social standard not only of Colorado but of the whole world. You, by fostering education, are doing a truly great work. Ignorance and crime go hand in hand, and by decreasing illiteracy you are preventing crime. We should not have the grand and glorious nation of ours today if it were not for education. People do not rise to the plane of self-government if they are uneducated. A few learned men may control the ignorant of a whole nation, but when all the nation strives for more knowledge thinkers and workers will arise and rule for themselves. We. the class of ’17, are duly thankful for the privileges you have afforded us. Our instructors may know how we feel tonight since they have gone through the same experiences themselves. We believe that the sadness in parting is not all on our side, as it is probable that the faculty is sorry to have us leave. You can be sure that we appreciate the many things you

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Salutator? CLASSMATES, INSTRUCTORS, PARENTS AND FRIENDS: We are celebrating tonight the commencement exercises of the class of '17. We are glad to see so many of our friends present and welcome you, one and all. The members of the class feel that by your presence here you are showing an interest in our future welfare. Tonight we are bidding good-bye to our High school days and are eagerly looking into the future. Our motto is “Knowledge is Power.” and because we believe this we are all looking forward to a college education. Many benefits are received from a college education. It enables a boy or girl to get out and meet people, and gives them self-confidence and poise, which it would take them several years to attain if they did not go to college. The friends and social acquaintances be makes are often of great value in later life as the alumnae form associations and clubs where one can go and associate with congenial companions; or, if lie should go to some other city, he would meet many graduates of his col- lege, would be taken in as one of them and his connection with them often would enable him to secure a better position. College education makes people rely on themselves, as then they do not have father or mother to tell them what is right and what is wrong. They have many decisions to make and if they make a mistake they know better next time, and seldom do they make the same mistake twice. Then there is the spirit of competition, both in debating and athletics. Debating enlarges the vocabulary and enables a person to put his thoughts into words. Also, by considering both sides of a question, a person’s mind is broadened. His ideas are thus cleared of all prejudices, so he is really able to grasp the truth when it is presented to him. I bis is also in line with the training he receives in a law school if a young man should be interested in that kind of work. The athletic training keeps him in good physical condition without which he cannot do good work. It also brings out the best there is in him and makes him think straight since men who are not straight are not allowed to com- pete. He learns that it is better to lose fairly than to win by underhand methods. The result of this training is that he nearly always carries these ideals with him when he goes into business. There is a nation-wide demand for specialized workers, and it is proved that the boy who goes through high school receives more than the boy who doesn’t go to high school, and that the boy who goes to college receives more after a few years’ experience than the boy who doesn't go to college. A college education broadens the mind and enables the student to face life properly equipped to make a living and maintain a high standard of living. The immigrants who stop in the cities and live in the tenement districts think they are very fortunate because it is so much better than what they have been accustomed to. But after being in the United States and getting an education their children raise the standard of living and become good citizens. Let me thank you again, kind friends, for your presence here, and the interest you have shown in the class of ’17. BURTON ALLIN.

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have done for us; that we repent the sorrow we have caused you, for the clas has not been a model class. We have had good times in High school and nave often thought more of these things than of our studies. We know that we have ofttimes disappointed you and made you think all your efforts in vain. Rut we hope in after life to reward you for all your efforts by becoming men and women who will be a credit to your instruction, and to the Steamboat High school. Although none of us may be famous, we can all become good citizens. Underclassmen: It is your duty to uphold the honor and dignity of the Steamboat High school. We hope you will profit by our varied experiences and have no cause to repent your past deeds. Tt causes us much sorrow to leave you behind. We have all stood together, but tomorrow we scatter; we to take up our work in a new life, you to strive to the goal we have reached. In the distant future we shall still be loyal to S. II. S. We can never forget the pleasant days we have spent there together. Pleasant memories will come to us of our pranks in school—of our parties, of our St. Patrick’s parades, and many of the joys that filled our school life. None can regret more than we the closing of school. However we enjoy the thoughts of being free from the restraint and discipline of our high school life and we look forward with pleasure to our new work. Live in the present; enjoy yourself now and get all there is out of life. Don’t think what a hard time you are having now. and that next year or next month you will be enjoying life. Getting enjoyment out of life is entirely up to you, and if you continually think only of the future, life is gradually slipping from you. When it is too late you will awake to the realization of what you have missed. Count the past an empty dream and let only the present be in your thoughts. The miser hoards his gold and lives a miserable existence, dreaming of the joy and power he will have in the future; but, alas, too late he will see his mistake and then life is over. We have only a short time to live in this world and it is our duty and highest pleasure to do our best right now. Live in the present; not in the past or future. The man or woman who does things lives not in the future but in the present. The present is all that is really yours. Nothing else is in our possession. We stand here tonight a class loyal to the S. H. S., and so will ever remain loyal to the patrons and teachers of our High school. We, the class of ’17, part tonight hoping that we will long be remem- bered by you and our followers in school. We find that saying good-bye is the most difficult part of graduation, but we realize it must come. The graduates of S. II. S. class 1917 bid an affectionate farewell to our teachers, to the underclassmen and to our happy school days together in S. IT. S. MAURICE LECKENBY.