Wells River High School - Chatterbox Yearbook (Wells River, VT)

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THE CHATTERBOX 19 The one who could be successful in his life work is not one who is simply working to earn his ten shillings a day, but one who, while working, realizes that he is building a cathedral. Work is a necessity. It is necessary to be interested in some line of work to make one’s way, to keep one’s self-respect, to foster one’s initiative. A knowledge of any line of useful work gives one a feeling of security that nothing else can produce. The knowledge that one has it in her power to care for herself and for others produces a feeling of satisfaction that is of more value than the accumulation of money. Work is an honor; work is a trust; work is a blessing. A useful life is not without its work and a helpful member of society has to be willing to work with others and for the benefit of others as well as for ones self; to share honors, accept trusts, bring blessings. A vocation is a calling; any occupation for which one has special abili- ties, for which one qualifies one’s self, or to which one devotes one’s time or life. One’s vocation should be work for which she has some interest; some natural liking; something she has faith in, something she knows will give the results desired. And the desired results are the pleasure and confidence one experiences in doing the work; the knowledge that one is a useful mem- ber of the community in which she lives. It is well if one can choose her life work while attending school; but if she is uncertain about what to choose, she should keep on with her schooling, getting a broader preparation, so that when the choice is made, she will be the better equipped for the task. One’s work should be constructive; in choosing my life work, I have chosen Domestic Science. I have always been interested in it and I believe it will be a great help to me because it is something that I can do to benefit any community that I may be living in. I have chosen Domestic Science because the ability to make nourishing food attractive has always appealed to me; it seems to be the special test, not only of an efficient housekeeper but of a homekeeper as well, to provide for the needs of the family. Many think there is a great deal to contend with in being a housekeeper; there is, but one will find that there is a great deal more responsibility in being a good homekeeper, for then she will be respon- sible not only for the daily duties but for making the home a comfortable and pleasant place for the whole family to share and enjoy. House-keeping is a science; home-keeping an art.” Through scientific study and experiments, the present generation has come to realize the necessity of the different classes of food and the proper amount of each in the daily diet; also that one should take into consideration the right number of calories for each person according to his work. A man doing hard work out of doors requires more calories and a different propoff

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18 THE CHATTERBOX GRADUATION EXERCISES OF THE CLASS OF 1930 Village Hall Monday, June 9, 1930 at 8 OClock Processional Prayer Salutatory and Essay Address to the Graduating Class Essay and Valedictory Recessional Rev. Ben Malcolm Smith Pearl Russell Rev. Albert Sherberg Mary Sawyer --§-- SALUTATORY It would seem strange for a pupil from a neighboring village to welcome the citizens of Wells River to one of their own public buildings, so I am not going to do that; but as a member of the Class of 1930 of Wells River High School and in behalf of my classmates, I welcome each and every one of you to these graduation exercises, parents, friends schoolmates, citizens of Wells River and of neighboring towns, and strangers. Each one is here for some special reason, personal interest in some one or more of our class, loyalty to fellow students, interest in educational matters, perhaps from force of habit; but whatever your reason for being here, we welcome you. —s----- MY VOCATION Work should be considered an opportunity,” so ones life work must be chosen with care. It is a privilege to work, so ones choice should be made, not alone for what money it may bring or for any possible fame to oneself, but for the benefit to others. To illustrate this thought let us recall the answers to a friendly visitor at a stone quarry. He asked the first workman, What are you doing?” The workman replied, I am working for ten shillings a day.” Of the second workman, the visitor asked the same question. His re- ply was, I am cutting stone.” To the third workman, the same question was put, but his answer was, I am building a cathedral.” Which was the most successful of the three?

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20 THE CHATTERBOX ticn of the different classes of food than a man working indoors, doing office work or clerking. Children require a different menu for their daily diet than working people do, and many of their ailments can be traced back to the lack of proper food. Meals should be prepared so that each member of the family may get his required amount, no more, no less. One may not at first like the food which contains the food values he needs, but he cannot long resist food care- fully prepared and attractively served. Domestic Science teaches one not only to know food values, but how to prepare and serve food attractively. Before these scientific experiments were performed, people did not realize that they were eating more than they needed and not always the right kinds of food in the right proportion. We should not find fault with the past generations; many of us would be proud if we could cook as well as our mothers can; but times have changed as they always will change and the new ways of living call for new methods of working. We are glad that people are realizing the importance of Domestic Sci- ence courses in our schools, because they form a firmer foundation for fur- ther study and interest the young people in this very necessary line of work. This course at Wells River High School has been of special advantage to us all, the class work having been conducted, not in the school laboratory, but in the home of our instructor. I had chosen my life work before entering Wells River High School, and my experiences here have proved to me that my choice was a wise one because homckecping is an art,” the application of practical knowledge. The American home is the strength of our nation; American hospitals are a blessing to humanity; Social Settlement work is a safeguard for the young people of the working classes; so whether my vocation shall lead me to help in settlement work, to serve in a hospital kitchen, or to contribute to the happiness of a home, I shall not only be earning my ten shillings a day,” but I shall be building a cathedral.” —Pearl Russell '30 -----5---- OPPORTUNITY What is opportunity? There are many meanings for the word but in brief, an opportunity is an opening which makes certain actions possible with probability of success or, better still, a favorable occasion favoring cir- cumstances. One must learn to make the most of his time and to be always ready for such an opportunity. It is said that opportunities come sooner or later,