Stoneham High School - Wildlife Yearbook (Stoneham, MA)

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4 THE S. H. S. AUTHENTIC JUNE 1934 SETTING OUT Now that the time has come for the guiding reins of school-day life to be cast off, our thoughts naturally turn to the future. Plans form them- selves in our minds; then other plans supplant them. Our minds are in a whirl. Procrastination, an en- dowment to all men by nature, has caused us to leave all preparation until the final year, or even the last few months. Our mind, untrained for the ordeal of decisions, wavers, first choosing and then rejecting. All advice is gladly received, yet who are we that we can distinguish good from bad opin- ion? The best advice I have been given is to “drive on.” Make your life energetic. Whatever you attempt, go at it with a will and finish it. Do it in the com- pletest and best way you know. In this way, a suc- cessful, efficient, and useful career may be accom- plished. Don’t be reckless or risk your honor, but keep on striving steadily. Remember, don’t quit or whine about life. It will gain you nothing, for everyone knows that life is what you make it. Life has no room for failure; there are too many others willing to work if you aren’t. If you need money, here is another chance to show that you can strive as hard as the many others who have survived pov- erty as bad as or worse than yours. Hard pulls and steep hills will show your stuff and stamina. Don’t sit down, but pitch in, drive on, and you will come out on top. Success may be a long way off, but perseverance will be sure to bring you to your goal. Dryden said, “Every man is the maker of his own fortune, and must be, in some measure, the trumpet of his fame.” James A. Smith. NEIGHBORS We are told in the Bible to love our neighbors as ourselves. Just as in so many other things, we misinterpret and neglect. We love the neighbor who thinks to sharpen our lawnmower before re- turning it, but we love better the neighbor who uses his own. It would seem from this that we are sel- fish and resent imposition of any sort. There’s a stumbling block, however, in the very emotions of our neighbors. Some are always glad to loan and to help; others delight in rebuff. If this helping-hand philosophy were the only side to the question, many more souls would arrive at the pearly gates. But when we not only cease to love our neighbor but also begin to hate him, our problem becomes more complex. Gossip is the child of long-tongued leisure and in- ventive minds. Neighborhoods , even as nations, di- vide themselves into cliques or parties. One ele- ment is conservative, the other, radical. While the radicals are “throwing” a party, the conservatives peek from behind drawn shades, only too anxious to get an eyeful. Then with bated breath they com- pare observations, striving always to be most vivid. They ignore their lowly neighbors; they are too good for such people. The radicals in turn, after a few snubs from the others, join in common dislike and defence. Their conversations, in turn, breed half truths and gossip. They forbid their children to play with the “stuck- up” conservatives and they flout their indiscretions out of spite. This constant dividing of neighbors can no more be stopped than war itself. It is difficult to remain neutral. But the man who can administer to the needs and whims of both, is the perfect neighbor. James Rich. SELF-CONFIDENCE Self-confidence is not recklessness. It is not the “know-it-all” attitude of the ignorant boaster. Rath- er is it a valuable asset based on a common-sense appraisal of your ability to perform. The quality demands self-control. You must be able to direct your mind and body. The yielder or the weak-willed individual is never able to marshal his own forces effectively. Hot tempers, excessive

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Up from the dark of our youth we have climbed to the top of the hill. Through the brambles and thickets of childhood we have struggled, until today we see a wondrous view. A view so vast our young eyes thrill at the grand impressive scene. Before us stretch low, fertile valleys, lazy rolling hills, deep shaded hollows, rugged mountain cliffs. Our more mature eyes identify valleys where almost jungle-like vegetation and uncharted paths will at- tempt to discourage us. There are also many pleas- ant valleys of contrasting significance where the sun shines brightly on smooth, green fields and gay lit- tle winding brooks reflect the sparkling warmth of the sunlight. Some of the days of our journey will be spent in the bright light of certainty while oth- ers will probably be lived in the darkness of doubt. There are hills we must climb. When we reach their summits we will see unfolded before us vistas as startling and strange as the one we perceive from this, our first hill. From some of these hill- tops we will see the sunny valleys of success — from others the dark deserts of despair. These hills will ever challenge us for they will ever reveal to us new pathways leading farther and farther into the great unknown which lies ahead of us. Far in the distance we see a few lonely figures — those who have gone before us. Though we have all reached the first hill together, from now on we must separate, each to find his own path. We will often be lonesome, wishing that we might once again see those with whom we started out. In some far distant spot your paths may unexpectedly cross, or, circling the hills, we again may find our- selves among the familiar places we knew in those happy days when we, all of us, traveled together. Most startling of all these strange new sights and thoughts is the realization that from now on we must determine our own pathways. There are those behind us who have returned home from their journey, telling us of its glories and warning us of its dangers but the years have changed the paths which they have trod. Along the way we will find many who will be generous with their advice. Some of them will be sincere, some of them will be helpful with their wisdom, and some of them in their care- lessness may give us useless, inaccurate advice. From all of this counsel which we will gather on our way we must glean out those few bits which will be truly helpful to us in finding the sure route to our goal. Whether we are lazily roaming through the pleas- ant part of our journey, or struggling with its hard- ships, we must always bear in mind that that for which we are striving is of more importance than anything else along the way. As we gaze on the rising sun of this, our new day, we must remember that that same glorious sun will rise day after day regardless of where our path may lie, that its beauty and warmth will greet us again and again. So, let us wipe the tears from our eyes, put a de- termined smile upon our faces, and start out into that wonderful adventure — Life.

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JUNE 1934 THE S. H. S. AUTHENTIC 5 appetites, anything that reduces efficiency keeps you from being your best self and prevents you from mastering your destiny. You must be self-reliant. You must not depend on somebody else’s talents. Develop your own. That is why God has placed them at your disposal. Stand by your ideas. Do not be afraid if you are alone. The crowd that is against you today may be with you tomorrow. Popularity comes and goes like gusts of summer wind. If you employ your own resources, you can succeed. Again, you must be prepared to make decisions and to stand by them. Once you have made your choice, stick to it. Do not be carried to and fro by every passing breeze of opinion. If you stop at ev- ery milepost to weigh pros and cons, you will not get very far during the day. Satisfy yourself that you are right. “I will be with thee.” How cheerful an assurance that has been to many persons in times when the outlook was dark and the silver lining was difficult to see! Many a chap has started through college with barely enough money to meet the expenses of the first year. It seemed as if it could not be done. Even before the doubters have ceased to shake their heads, the young doctor, clergyman, farmer, engi- neer or lawyer steps into the ranks of the profes- sions. Therefore, consider your possibilities and treat them as possibilities and be self confident! Viola La Pierre.