Page 5 - 1956

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS BY VIRGINIA CHENAULT
On this momentous occasion I count it a great honour to represent my fellow students of the 1955 graduating class. It is with a sense of sadness that we bid a final fare•,rell to a collegiate that has been our home for the past 5 years and I am confident that whatever I may say will merely echo the sentiments of my classmates. Tonight we have reached the culmination of our youthful ambition and in doing so we would pause to reminisce on our a~~ent up the hill of education to its summit, Graduation.
The months have flown since that first day five years ago when we timidly entered the assembly hall to be quickly s•.1allowed up in a sea of strange faces. With eager expectancy we studied the row of teachers before us, those patient, faithful instructors who have laboured daily that we might acquire and assim- ilate the prescribed course of study. Tonieht they realize that they did not strive in vain and we would pay tribute to them not only for the necessary academic teaching but for the important lessons of adaptability, decorum and perseverance which we learned from them. We would pay tribute also to our be- loved principal for his interest in the lives and ambitions of each one of us. No doubt we have caused many a headache and frown at the regular teachers' meetings for often we have been slow in responding to lessons and quick iL acknowledging failure. Y~time and patience have conquered and we gratefully realize the advent of success.
In retrospect we can relive some of the classes when our ears were tuned to the five minute bell rather than to the voice of our instructor who vainly tried to penetrate our reverie. Or we are carried back in our imagination
to the math classes where we concentrated on some difficult oroblem often without success, or the essay periods when we waited impatiently for inspiration that refused to come. However from this point of completion
we would rather dwell on the more pleasant memories as the fall rugby games which brought to us excitement as well as an excuse to escape from studies. How proud we were of our school and of our fellows who gave their best unmindful of the constant threat of bruises and broken ribs. There followed field day, volleyball, and basketball tournaments, each in turn presenting its
heroes and teaching us the value of school spirit and true sportsmanship. Perhaps to our elders we seemed to place more emphasis on sports and social activities than weougnt. Yet underneath the surface each one of us realized that we wer e here for one specific pur pose-t o acquire a knowledge that would enable us to follow our chosen careers and thus make our mark in an ever progressing worJd.
And now we face the future, unknown to us in many respects. But that very factor inspires us in an eagerness to take the initial step, hesitant though it may be, and follow steadily on toward
our respective goals. Until now our paths have blended into one as we sought the necessary ground- ing for higher education. Now the paths diverge into numerous smaller courses, each leading to equally important careers. This necessitates separation not only from those with whom we have
studied and competed for the oast five years, but also from these our teachers who have contributed so much to our present success. It is impossible
for students and teachers to continue together, but as we separate, the ideals which they have instilled 1n us will go with us as we proudly determine to uphold the honour of the Collingwood District Collegiate Institute.
3