Page 8 - 1955

VALSDICTORY ADDRESS SEPT. 10, 1954
Mr. }1acnae, Inspector Booth, members of the staff of the Collegiate
Institute, fello1.r students, l adles and gentlemen:
To-night I stand before you feeline Greatly honoured to be able to represent, and speak a few Herds of farm·rell for the 1951~ graduating class of the Collingwood District Collegiate Institute. It has been a great privilege to be here and throueh our five happy years He have received much that will carry us on to greater future goals.
~le are here to-ni cht with a sense of great gl adness and high hopes, nevertheless with a note of melancholy as we contemplate leaving the place of our secondary school educati on.
AlwRys will be remembered the first eaeer days of collegiate life when we embarked upon a new sea of knowledge which has now been traversed successfully.
There arise in our minds the not-so-pleasant memories of study and hum-drum work which was endured but also much enjoyed. Although tedious at times, it has brought us to our ultimate goal,--graduation.
\ve are reminded of the Hell-known saying that anything worth achieving necessitates sacrifice in one form or another.
Next came the sports activities, which were so essential to balanced school life. There were the football games with the entire school out cheering wholeheartedly for our team, whether in victory or defeat. The track and
field meets and basketball which thrilled us as competitors or as spectators instilled in us a never-ending pride in our school and town.
Through our years of academic 1•ork and sports activities, we have gleaned the true meaning of sportsmanship, cooperation, and obedience.
vie must not, at this time, neglect the paying of tribute to our principal, teachers, and parents, who, making it all possible, have so ably guided and corrected us in every phase of our school life. It is they who have taught us the supreme values of initiative, persistence, and concentration through their hours and years of tolerance, patience, and constant faith in humanity.
From no~-r on our lives will spread into various walks, and although uncertaihties may arise, we look forward to it with resolution and determination to succeed and to excel in our chosen fields of activity, knol·ring that we have acquired here the necessary tools for the job.
Isn't it strange
That prince s and kings, And clowns that caper
In sawdust rings,
And common people
Like you and me
Are builders for eternity
Each is given a bag of tools A shapeless mass,
A book of rules;
And each must make--
Ere life is flown-- A stumbling block Or a steppingstone.
We, the graduating class, wish the student body and teachers of this school continued success and happiness during this present school year and in all your future endeavours.
EDWARD A . COOK