Victoria High School - Victorian Yearbook (Edmonton, Alberta Canada)

Page 17 text:

VALEDICTORY by BARBARA FLAGLER There are moments in life which are remem¬ bered and looked back upon fondly for many years. I am sure that this night will be filled with treasured memories for all of us. For such a meaningful occasion, I feel deeply honoured to have been chosen to give the valedictory; to say, on behalf of so many, farewell. For this IS farewell—to Vic, to our teachers and to many of our friends. But a farewell is not an ending, it is a hope that Vic will continue to be a truly great school, a wish that our teach¬ ers will have happiness always, and a prayer that our friends will find success in the years to come. Graduations, like a farewell, is not an end, but a beginning. Plutarch said, When men are arrived at the goal, they should not turn back. We have achieved a goal by completing the first phase of our educ ation; but this is not the time to stop planning and dreaming for the future. This is our chance to make our lives worthwhile, to make our teachers proud to know that we are from Vic. These teachers have always given unselfishly of their time, their abilities, and their under¬ standing, much as a gardener would tirelessly devote himself to growing strong, healthy trees. It is a well-known fact that he who plants trees benefits a future age. Our teachers have planted in us many unforgettable ideas of honesty and sincerity as well as the desire to learn. Before a tree can grow properly, the roots must develop and find security. Our parents, and the wonderful influence of our homes, have given us a sturdy basis on which to grow to maturity. A young tree entering o world filled with trees of all ages and descriptions, needs sunshine and food and is expected to compete for a place to grow among thousands of other trees. So do we, as young people, need sunshine, nourishment, friendship and respect. The sunlight has shone brightly at Vic; we have had innumerable happy times together. The nourishment has been of the best quality; we have received a good education academically, socially, and athletically. Friend¬ ship has been of the finest kind—probably finer than any we will find again. The respect for our rights and abilities by the whole staff as well as our fellow students has given us confidence to meet the many strange people and situations we are soon to encounter. As the tree matures, it grows steadily more lovely and more stately. Although it bears thousands more leaves than it once did, though it appears much larger than before, the core remains deep within the trunk of the tree. We have been given a core, for Vic has taught us loyalty, honesty, sincerity, the value of good sportsmanship, the ability to lead or to follow . . . the way to be a real person. The tree is depend¬ ent on its core for healthy growth; the splendour of the tree is slowly ruined if the core rots. We, too, must depend on those basic but wonderful ideals to have happy, successful, and beautiful lives. Our lives lie before us in a broad, bright, promising expanse. The future is uncertain, it is hidden even from us who will make it. As a tree grows, it always grows upward to the stars. We are young; we are fully alive, and to us, who possess the incomparable Vic spirit to win, and to win fairly, the future is shining with promise, like those distant stars. We will gain happiness, because we have been taught to work and to have courage, because we have learned the value of worthwhile thoughts and ideals, and because we were graduated from Victoria Composite High School! is

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GRAD PRESIDENT ' S MESSAGE Recently, as I leafed through the yearbook received when I was in Grade X, I could not help but notice how small and bewildered we all looked. I now see why the sophomores and seniors burst into gales of laugh¬ ter when a group of frosh walked down the halls looking for a room number that was non-existent in that part of the school. Now, we are seniors, who upon reaching the goal of Grade XII education, are graduating. We have greatly matured in our years at high school. The excellent teaching staff at Vic has taught us well. Through their constant attention, we are now able to move on into higher learning or hold jobs in today ' s busy world. The administrative staff deserve much praise. They have helped us through our problems and carefully guided us to this end result: graduation. To these two groups go our heartiest thanks. We cannot overlook the wonderful facilities that Vic provides—both educational and recreational. These undoubtedly have contributed to our success in high school. The Grads of ' 62 are indeed fortunate to have attended Victoria Composite High School. In closing, I would like to say two things: To the Grads—All the success and happiness in the world. To the Freshmen and Sophomores—Never say die! 14

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GALE ROUND DENNIS Secretary MICHAELCHUK T reasurer ELIZABETH MARKLE BARRY BOTSFORD ROSALIE FISHER JENNIFER MacNAUGHTON GARY WHITE MARLENE MILTON ANDREW BENIUK MISS A. LENT Adviser LESLIE JINKS 16