Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-06-17
SCHOOL AHEAD
THE GRADUATE
(By Barbara Boyd.)


A steady stream of graduates is
pouring out into the world from COM
mencement platforms They ought to
change the face of the world to some
extent, When one considers their num-
bers, their ideals and their enthus-
iasm. But for some reason or other
they don't The world receives them,
swallows them and joys on the same
as before.
Probably one reason they make no
more impression than they do is be-
cause they have all learned the same
things, not only all the graduates for
this year, but all the graduates for
many years. They have learned Greek
roots and various facts about rian-
giles and other information of this
character. These facts make very lit
tie impression upon the world, for it
hasn't much use for them. So life has
to take them in hand and teach them
some of its lessons. In the school of
life which the graduate now enters
she learns that which is of the most
use to herself and the world
The things which the school of life
teaches to be of value, the graduate
probably has heard little of in the
school she is just leaving. They arr
old-fashioned, time-worn things; and
If the graduate did hear of them she
probably gave scant heed, the other
things on the roster seemed so much
more important. But life hasn't much
to say about Greek verbs and theo-
ries about riangles; it asks as it al
ways has asked, for initiative thor
ough dependability, stick-to-it-tive-ness
and such other classics.
The graduate who can translate the
spirit of the times into speech or ac-
ion; who doesn't do what that the CEN
fury behind her has done, but what
the century ahead of her needs, is the
one who will take the honors IN
life's school. She may know little of
Latin and less of Greek and the pass
words of logic may be a strange tongue
to her, but the world will welcome
her.
The girl who comes from school with
a proper estimate of the value of
thoroughness, no matter what work she
may take up is the girl who will en-
ter lifes school without conditions"
For this is one of the Requirements of
the school of life and it is not learn
ed before entering, it will have OF be
taken after entrance. 1T is more es-
sential to success than a knowledge of
botany, though botany is not to be de-
cried
$50 also is Observation-Disclosures. it
takes graduate sometimes long time
to learn in the school of life that she
will never get anywhere unless she
knows where she is going, and sticks
to the road.
Dependability is another course not
always given in the school the gradu-
ate has attended, but which the school
of life absolutely insists upon, if no
ors are to be won.
The graduate has quite as much to \
learn now that school days are over
as she has crammed during the past
four years and more, Only she isn't !
aware of it. 1t takes her a little
while to discover that she has enter
ed the created school of all now, and |
one that will try her mettle to the
utmost She is no longer sitting in
secluded classrooms, filling her head |
with the lore of books and getting an
She is in the school IF
life, learning it's lessons at first hand
and building character. And it is in
this school that the graduate is really
taught the things that make an impress
sion upon the world for betJerment.