Information below taken from the 1925 yearbook:
"Play the Game" is the motto chosen for our class of 1925. Four years ago at the beginning of our high school career, if we seniors could have looked upon these words as we do tonight, perhaps we would have been better able to say we have played the game well. But in the fall of 1921 when we were Freshmen, little did we think of school as one of the big games of life. Since then we have come to realize it, for although when we entered school and started on the path of learning, our happiness began, yet with this happiness came worries and responsibilities. In school we have learned the lesson of responsibility for our work, for the characters we built, for the friends we made, for the friends we lost, and for the opinions that others formed of us.
For the past few years, we have been preparing for our future game in life. Although our preparation is not quite over, we have now reached another stepping-stone in that great game. In closing our high school career we fully realize that our motto, "Play the Game" is one that we can well observe through life. Perhaps in the years to come we can appreciate the words of our motto better than we can at the present. When we leave our study halls and go out into the world, whether it be in college or in some occupation we must strive for the very best. In choosing our work we must remember that we are not all prepared and talented along the same lines, so for this reason we must take that for which we are best suited and give our best to win. There are many games, some big, others small; but there is just as much honor in playing the small ones, if we play well as to play the big ones.
We must bear in mind that the little games are to be played as well as the big ones, and if they are not played well we cannot expect the big ones to be. This policy is well illustrated in the Great American, Abraham Lincoln, who started from the bottom and worked up to the top.
"Heaven is not reached at a single bound:
But we build the ladder by which we rise
From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies,
And we mount to its summit round by round.
We rise by things that are 'neath our feet'
By what we have mastered of good and gain;
by the Pride deposed and the passion slain
And the vanquished ills that we hourly meet."
Each individual is not required to play all the games, but this one factor "Playing the Game" enters into them all; and our high school education has prepared us mentally, physically, morally, and socially to play our game.
After four years of hard study in high school we are all very sure that we are better prepared mentally to begin the work which the future may hold for us, whatever it may be. If not, why do so many occupations require high school training, or in other words when one applies for a position why is the first question usually asked "are you a high school graduate"? I am sure it is a very sensible question and every one who has had the opportunity to attend a high school should be able to answer "yes".
A well educated minister once said, "Opportunity and Privilege equal success." Now the opportunity of attending high school, varies with the individual. Sometimes it takes much sacrifice on our part as well as on that of our parents, while in other cases the sacrifice may not be so great. The good school legislature of this state has made it possible for every boy and girl, who completes the eight years of elementary school to attend high school some place, and at the present time any boy or girl who has the will power and determination can have the privilege of attending high school. Therefore, if we master this little problem, opportunity and privilege will equal success, if we carefully follow the rules for working it.
The Physical part of our education, also has been very well taken care of. Every boy and girl has had a chance to take part in Athletics where only good clean sportsmanship existed. In playing our games of basketball and baseball we had to learn the big lessons of "Fairness," "To be a good loser", "To learn to give and take" and above all "To play the game", which I am very sure we are going to need to know when we get out into the world to do for ourselves.
Everybody cannot win at all times, therefore, when it is our gate to lose we should not get angry or discouraged, but be more determined to win next time. This lesson we learned in our school games for as you all know we did not win at all times, yet no player remained angry simply because a game was lost. In our life's work we hope we can be ready to give and take as we have been in our athletics of high school.
You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that?
Come up with a smiling face.
It's nothing against you to fall down flat,
But to lie there-- that's disgrace.
The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce,
Be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts;
It's how did you fight and why?
The moral training that we have received in high school, I am sure has been far better than we could have received had we not been in school. To be sure we have made many mistakes and our conduct sometimes has not been the best, but by experience we were taught to practice the "Golden Rule" and thus to strive to have a high, noble, honest, and sincere character. In other words we had to play our game, but play it fairly and squarely.
The social part of our high school days perhaps means as much to us as our books of learning. For four years we came in contact with boys and girls, and teachers with different opinions and dispositions than our own. Therefore, we have learned that it does not pay to be too conceited, for others may sometimes differ from us. It is said that it is much easier to see others' mistakes than our own, and we know how true this is. But I think we have profited and will profit by seeing the mistakes of others, if to this we add as the Poet Burns says "The power to see ourselves as others see us," for then we shall realize our weak points and will improve them as we come in contact with our great problems of live.
Now in leaving High School we all look forward with hope that the privilege to attend college will be our; and that there we shall continue to "Play the Game" which we have begun in High School. But if this is not to be our fortune, then we shall be ready to use our motto in life and to see it better than we have in the past four years; for ringing in our ears will always be this thought.
"Play up! Play up! And play the game"
This is the word that year by year,
While in her place the school stands,
Every one of us must hear,
And none that hears it dare forget.
This they all with joyful mind
Bear through life like a torch in flame,
And failing, fling to the host behind,
"Play up! Play up! And play the game."
Bertha Snyder-- Class Valedictorian