Page 8 - 1954

had the fortitude to make their home here, but we appreciate that their optimism and faith in the future of this area made possible.
and are thankful our opportunity
Pioneering today is less rugged than it was for our forefathers, but it is Aqually important, demanding and necessary. There is much to be accomplished in any field of endeavour in which we as graduates find ourselves. Let us always remember as we do our work that it is character and service that counts and these are in the realm of ideas and relationships. As a group we must remember this, for unfortunately life today is such that a man finds himself dealing more with things which require to be manipulated rather than with ideas and persons.
We are all blind until we see That in the human plan
Nothing i s worth the making if It does not make the man.
Why build these cities glorious If man unbuilded goes.
In vain, we build the work, Unless the builder also grows.
VALEDICTORY
Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the Staff, fellow classmates; as valedictorian of the class graduating from grade twelve this year I feel both honour and plea- sure in expressing to you the feelings of those who have climbed together up the steep hill of education and who are now nearing the top. I speak not only for those in grade twelve, but for the whole student body because we all will be leaving Creemore Continuation School together.
We are leaving behind not just a school. We are leaving our own coat hanger, the fountain in the corner where so many friendships grew, the muddy ball diamond, the tail-less skeleton of the cat, and the dairy up on the hill from which so many hundreds of eyes have sought inspiration.
As we look back down the path which we have just climbed, we remember how a few short years ago we entered a strange room, chose a strange seat and then sneaked shy glances at the twenty-nine others to predict their future. We recall also the severe case of butterflies in the stomach before the first field day, the thrill when that certain boy asked to be taught to dance, then the dismal feel- ing of failure after a difficult test, and those conversations held over the radiators in the middle of the winter.
We will remember those things because we are sentimental, but we will not for- get the lessons in living either. We developed a spirit of co-operation when we staged concerts and when ~e made oxygen in the science room. We learned self-control when we finished that very last page of homework; we felt and ex- pressed emotional beauty in music and in literature and those arguements we had tn grade nine geography class most certainly must have developed something. Above all, we experienced true happiness and contentment in the fellowship of our classmates. These are our friends. All our life we will be encountering other people. The most valuable mortal possession is a friend.
We have been guided down the first few miles of the stream of life and have been taught by the sailors how to manage the boat. Now we must navigate our own vessel, be it a noisy motor boat, or a beautiful yacht, or a trusty row boat. At first we will be shaky and uncertain but before we have gone far we too will be staunch and weather-beaten sailors.
Lest we be smashed against the rocks we must avoid the rapids, and unless we are careful we might take the wrong branch and end in a stagnant pool. We must keep to the centre where the current is smooth, even though we pass between high pressing banks; but we must always look forward to the sunny section aro- und the next bend.
Now we are about to turn another bend. We do not know what will happen or what is there, but we know that we have been prepared to face this future, whatever it may be, and we know that our days at Creemore Contilluation School will for- ever be re-echoing to us from the shores of our memories.
Helen Emmett XII