Stoneham High School - Wildlife Yearbook (Stoneham, MA)

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graduation Address We, the graduating class, are leaving this school today having completed our journey over the first mile. Our high school days are behind us, and the stepping stones are already laid for the portion of the journey which lies ahead. These days in high school have created in most of us a desire for further ach- ievements in our respective fields. They have in- stilled in us farsightedness and ambition to go on to greater things. As we leave today, it is with the knowledge that we have left behind us our first mile. This, how- ever, is not an ending. It is the mere beginning of our lives. The principles we have acquired along this first mile will remain with us throughout life. It is well, therefore, if we have chosen the right path; for then we can start our Second Mile with high hopes for the future. The real test of living and progress is whether we have the stamina for the Second Mile. The power to l egin this journey lies in our hands. Of course, it is up to us whether we utilize this power. Those of us who possess a clear vision and a direct purpose will look upon the Second Mile with eagerness, while others will fear to undertake il. There will be those who will begin their journey whole-heartedly but who will be influenced by false pretenses and swayed to wander from their journey. And there will be those who will give up because they have met failure for the first time. It is not an easy journey, this Second Mile; for as we travel along, we shall rise or fall according to our own individual efforts. We, as a class, stand together today as a nu- cleus with all these Second Miles extending from us. Some of us will travel over the road of business, sci- ence, religion, and all the other hundreds of occu- pations and professions that offer themselves to us. As we travel these various roads and become the luture citizens of America, we must prepare ourselves to accept the challenge of making this a better world. We can do this, only if we prepare and start our Second Mile with the greatest precautions. Knowing .some of the pitfalls, we can try to avoid them and thus crown the Second Mile with success. THE SECOND MILE No given formula for success can be found. The qualities that constitute it are hidden within us and must be developed by us. There is no success with- out burning ambition which gives us the drive to continue come wind, come weather. This ambition gives us courage to pursue the new and the different if it is better than the old and the already tried. 4bove all, ambition lends us eagerness to make use of all our ability, all our ability, all our time, and all the opportunities that life bestows upon us. With- out ambition, the Second Mile would be an imposs- ibility. Ambition itself, however, is not enough be- cause sometimes the ambitious one forgets that “He also serves who only stands and waits.’’ Ambition must be linked with service rather than with greed on the Second Mile. Myriad are the opportunities for service which lie in our path in contrast to the limited servitude of a few hours of study and work that have thus far presented themselves to us in connection with our school work. Service must now broaden in our con- ception to include our fellowmen. Surely in this world so pregnant with hate and strife there is room for service — the unselfish giving of time and energy to a worthy cause without thought for monetary gain or any form of public acclaim. A man like Albert Schweitzer trod the Second Mile when he gave up a world-famed career as a musician to minister to the physical needs of the people of Africa. David Liv- ingstone walked the Second Mile of service when he gave up comport to face the hardships of a rural mission post; and we could well emulate his action which is remembered in this famous quotation from his letters. “I will go anywhere providing it be for- ward in the service of the Almighty God.” Whether it is to be service to God or service to mankind which is manifested in the various occupa- tions in our complicated system of society, it is a ne- cessity on our journey along the Second Mile. Many times we will falter and lose courage. There is little glamour in playing a small part in serving mankind; but if through our willingness to serve we render benefit to one fellow being, we shall have walked with success that is deep and meaningful on our Second Mile. No one can truly serve who does not link with his service understanding. We have to be able to [ 22 ]

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Senior Monors Let k notvledge grow from more to more. MACDONALD MEDALS For scholarship, character, and good influence in the school. Ann M. Griffin Joseph E,. LaLiberte CLASS HISTORIANS — Lena H. Guastaferro, John F. Rees CRADU ATION ADDRESS — Beverly M. Hanson PRELIMINARY HONOR GROUP CLASS PROPHECY — Priscilla R. Goudey CLASS WILL — Gladys M. Anderson, John Steigman The following awards and prizes will be announced at graduation exercises History Medals — Mathematic and Science Medal — Grange Art Prize — Grange Music Prize — American Legion Medal — Carrie S. Ireland Citizenship Award — Parent-Teacher Scholarships — Teachers’ Club Scholarship — Blue and White Scholarship — (B average or higher for four years) Laura E. Gordon Frank L. Goudey Ann M. Griffin Joseph E. LaLiberte Ruth A. Merrill John F. Rees Clara D. Salera John Steigman Beverly M. Hanson Lena H. Guastaferro GRADUATION COMMITTEE Marjorie J. Bingham W. Charles McDermott Ruth A. Merrill Joseph H. Picano Laura E. Gordon Frank L. Goudey John R. Houghton Nancy J. Hoyt Clara D. Salera Amelio J. Salera John Steigman Richard P. Livingstone [ 21 ]

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say with the ancient Hebrew philosopher, ‘‘I sat where they sat, and I was astonished at what I saw.” All too often we just don’t take time to understand as we hurry along our own path. People of all races and creeds are going to be rubbing shoulders with us. and they will all be contributing their particular gifts to society. The “tissue-paper” difference of skin pigmentation doesn ' t lessen their gift. Look for a moment at a man well ahead of us on the Second Mile. He has the brilliant mind of a scientist, and from his creative genius has come the ability to make from waste products food that has fed his race and products that have clothed them as well as us. I speak of Dr. George Washington Carver, a Negro. Lincoln, a man whom we all cherish and respect, once said. “All men are created equal.” In our Declaration of Independence, we pronounce for the world to hear, these words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: — That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” How can a man even pursue happiness if we not only condone racial prejudice by sanctioning it, but also take part in its malignity. We forget how racial epithets would sound if they were directed toward us or our family. With understanding we see all people as they are, fellow human beings who are loyal to their own race and creed much in the same manner as we try to be loyal to ours. Again. I repeat, if we can say with sincerity, “I sat where they sat, and I was astonished at what I saw,” we have understanding and we have walked harmoni- ously with our fellow men as we all pursue the Second Mile. The final attribute necessary for the journey of the Second Mile is faith. None of us know exactly where we are going or what problems life is going to present. We can only hope to know that if we try, we will progress. Faith is not alone something that is instilled in us. It is an intangible element in our make-up that must be constantly nursed and nurtured before it can blossom forth in its full power. This is the greatest and most difficult hurdle on our Second Mile. Many times we will be shaken to the core, and only blindly can we grope and feel our way even on the Second Mile. Possibly the faith we have in ourselves will be gone, but stronger than our own faith will stand the faith that our parents have in our final achievements. Temptation to abandon our chosen route is bound to come. The way is hard; the ascent is steep. Back of us, standiiiK four square, is the faith of our mother, our father, or a trusted friend. Thus we can and must go on. Faith is our main staff on the Second Mile. Everything may be taken from us, all mankind may forsake us; but no man can ever take faith from us. We have to push it away ourselves. Every successful person possesses faith and often his success varies in direct ratio to the amount of faith he has in himself. Today, we stand together at the end of the first mile. Tomorrow we step out into the vastness of the Second Mile more or less alone. I have had time to mention only a few of the important factors that are essential to our success. I could have spoken ot loyalty, sincerity, honesty, and reliability — all of them important; but to me those of prime importance in the turbulent world of today are the four which I have mentioned to you — ambition, service, understand- ing, and faith. As we leave these, our graduating exercises, to enter the Second Mile of our endeavor in life, may we take with us firmness of purpose and a renewing of personal devotion to the realities of adult living so that we will walk with strength and be able to stand at the end of the Second Mile and see a record that we have made which is worthy of our best selves. I fully realize the scope of the journey I have outlined, and it is with certain knowledge that the way is difficult; but in spite of hardships and diffi- culties, I commend it to you as the only way we, as a class and as individuals, can possibly hope to com- bat the chaotic world conditions that confront us Let us, therefore, go forward with heads erect and hearts equal to the journey ahead — The Second Mile. Beverly Hanson PATHWAYS Into the future runs a silver road, But to discover it, man needs a code Of always serving and doing good deeds Often forgetting his personal needs. No one must live for himself alone His friends are the fruit from the deeds he has sown; For he must live with real joy and true love That many blessipgs will come from above. Ann Griffin