University of Maryland Baltimore Dental School - Mirror Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION FACULTY

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THE

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MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN Ideals and Achievement HE achievement of men and the effect of their contributions upon the world about them are largely determined by the idealism of the individual. Ideals are spiritual models which guide men in fixing standards of conduct for themselves. Standards are matters of choice and our devotion to them is a matter of determination. Woodrow Wilson said, Let us set for ourselves a standard so high that it will be glorious to live up to it, then let us live up to it. 1 know of no example of the value of an ideal in promoting the achievement of a people which surpasses that of the ancient Athenian. . In his cultural attain- ments he laid the foundation for a future civilization which the world of today enjoys. This idealism depended very l argely upon the teaching which the Athenian youth received. The pledge of loyalty taken by each Athenian youth about to enter his place in the life of his city is applicable to the young man of today and particularly to that one who aspires to professional estate. Young men would do well to study the famous Ephebic Oath and apply it to their profession as the Athenian applied it to his city: We will never bring disgrace to this, our city, by any act of diS ' honesty or cowardice, nor ever desert our suffering comrades in the ranks. We will fight for the ideals and sacred things of the city, both alone and with many; we will revere and obey the city ' s laws and do our best to incite a like respect and reverence in those above us who are prone to annul or set them at naught; we will strive unceasingly to quicken the public ' s sense of civic duty. Thus in all these ways we will transmit the city not only not less, but greater than it was transmitted to us. If one aspires to success in its truest sense he must be actuated by motives above and beyond selfishness, greed, and avarice. He must be motivated by unselfishness, by a desire to gain in spiritual stature, and should aspire to be judged, not in terms of material goods, but in terms of good citizenship, good fellowship, and good living. He must be true to his country, to his friends, to his profession, but above all, he must be true to himself. DR. J. BEN ROBINSON 14