Written by Minnie Dixon, Class Salutatorian
Friends, Parents and Relatives, the Honorable Board of Education, Schoolmates and Teachers. We, the graduating class of Minford High School of 1925, greet you and welcome you here this evening to share in the honors of these commencement exercises.
On this commencement eve we take pleasure in expressing to you our gratitude and appreciation for all that you have done for us, for the opportunities you have given us, and for helping to make this school what it has been, is, and shall be in the future.
We are thankful that we are members of a community which encourages education---for, "Education is a better safeguard of liberty than and standing army". You have striven to carry out your aims of giving the boys and girls of this district and the surrounding ones the best possible institutions, has developed much since its organization. It is being built up step by step, day by day, and year by year.
The day is not far distant when the curtain of time will again fall upon a graduating class of Minford High--this time it falls upon ten promising boys and girls; the first time, a year ago, upon seven capable and ambitious young women. These classes have "blazed the trail", and this should be an encouragement to others to "Climb, though the rocks be rugged". It is our hope that the undergraduates may profit by our examples, see their dangers, and steering clear of the rut of failure, run steadily on the cinder path track to success.
It is almost impossible to draw a realistic picture of times prior to one's own experience, observations and recollections and, not having been eyewitnesses to the conditions before this school was established, we cannot forecast what is to come, for the past is so intermingled and related with the present and future it is as if they were the waves of the sea. However, we do know that this school is becoming more and more the center of community interest, and this is as it should be. But if, it is to continue such, there must be increased cooperation between the two--the community and the school. As someone has said,
"Life is the mirror of king and slave,
'Tis just what we are and do,
Then give to the school the best you have
And the best will come back to you".
This is true, the more encouragement and incentive you give us in our school work the better citizens we will try to be for you. Success in school life has a great deal to do with success in later life, as statistics show that about eighty percent of those that were successful in high school are successful in later life. In school we create those habits and develop those ideas that make us successful--we learn to form good work habits, to master every lesson, to create a good spirit of obedience, honor, loyalty and fellowship. This is done in a wide awake school by the cultural organizations, such as literary societies, debating clubs, and musical associations, and by school parties, picnics, athletics, and various other activities which arouse originality and responsibility and which give direct experience with matters closely related to effective citizenship.
But alas! our high school days will soon be ended and as a class we shall part, each member going his separate way, severing the friendly ties that have been formed through these years of association, but forever cherishing the recollection of these high school days and this commencement night that is just terminating. Soon we shall begin our life in the world and in the Community, and although we are proud that we have successfully rounded another step in the ladder of life, it is with a feeling of sorrow that we leave dear old Minford High.
Thus, after four years of high school training, we, with a greater realization of our debt to you, take pleasure in expressing our sincere thanks and deepest appreciation for giving to us these opportunities which we have enjoyed. May your interest continue to be centered in this school and bring forth the still greater blessings to be derived from it.
MINNIE DIXON--
Class Salutatorian '25