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

Page 22 text:

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,

Page 21 text:

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

Page 23 text:

THE CHATTERBOX 21 to the one who works, so when they come to the ones who deserve them, they must be ready to make the most of them. If one is wise he is able to make more opportunities than he finds. One must not wait for them; he must make them. Do we gain anything by waiting for a favorable or convenient time to do a thing? No. We only lose time by waiting; it would have been better had it been done at the right time. Many times during the day, opportunities come to us which we constantly keep forgetting. We should be on the alert for these chances and learn to improve even the smallest ones, because every good chance lost is the loss of so much valuable time. It is not always that opportunities come with their face value stamped upon them. One must be able to consider the ones that come and choose between the favorable and the unfavorable. Of course, it is hard to choose, and it means that one must be tactful and able to use good judgment to al- ways decide upon the right thing at the right moment. A person who is mean can always find the time and opportunity for doing a mean thing, so it is the result of our own choosing that shows what cur true character really is. John was graduating from high school. Along with his high school work he had studied music and he liked it very much. His mother de- cided that he should go to college the coming year. He didn t really wish to, but his mother had made his decisions for him all through his high school course and she made this one. Instead of telling her how he would rather go on with music and that he was more interested in it, he went to college and as a result, he failed. In all probability his mother would have been only too glad to have him interested in something of his own choosing. There was nothing left to do now but to go on with his music. He did and was very successful. Wouldn’t it have been better had John used a little fore- sight and decided what he knew best himself? He was so accustomed to having his mother decide for him that it had become a habit and as a result, a year’s work had been lost. Now that we are graduating we feel that we have taken some of the many opportunities that were offered to us in Wells River High School. We only regret that we did not take advantage of more. —Mary Sawyer '30 --5-- VALEDICTORY Today the class of 1930 bids farewell to our dear old high school. We have all been here for four years and Wells River High School has a place in our hearts that we will not forget, but that will grow more dear as the years go by. I can not express our true feelings at this parting time; our hearts are filled with joy and sadness, and a hope for a happy and profitable future.