Willmar tribune., 1916-06-07
GRADUATION ORATIONS
WILLMAR SEMINARY
VALEDlcTORY.
By Helga c.. Berg.

BY Helga c. Berg.
Friends, Teachers and Fellow Stud
ents:
Today the Willmar Seminary sends
out its 34th class of graduates. To-
day 1t completes the 34th cycle of its
existence. At each years outset the
Willmar Seminary stands ready to
welcome new students and at each
years close bids another class adieu.
A year ago she welcomed US into her
ranks, since then we have been kindly
instructed within it's walls. The day
has come when the seals are affixed
to our diplomas as proof that our
work here has been satisfactorily COM
pleted.
But whatever our success as stud
ents may have been, and we all real.
ize that it could have been far greater,
we must now say farewell. We, who
for year have been trying to learn
something which might help us along
in this life, must go out for ourselves.
We must now fight our own battles
and win our own victories, (or as we
say be ION our own hook") The
world has a right to expect a grad.
uate to be educated. But we as grad
yates could make no greater mistake
than to think that only he is educated
who holds diploma. The fact is that
education in it's broadest meaning i'm
plies life long process, consisting
alike of instruction, application and
habit formation. From this it is plain
that the education which one gets at
the W1llmar Seminary is means to
an end in the educational process, not
an end in itself.
These exercises are rightly called
Commencement exercises. For many
of us this day will mark the first mile
stone in our life's journey. Before
one starts out on any journey he nat
urally has destination in view, so
also with us; we have a goal or des-
| tination toward which we are striv-
| ing. During our last years of school
we have been on our way, but now at
Commencement we go out on the
harder and more difficult road. We
| are now in the direct path. The know
ledge we have gained here may seem
small, but duly appreciated and prop
erly used, it will enable us to take
an active part towards gaining this
looked-for-success. But in order to
prosper and succeed we must endeav-
or to live truly and Loyalty. Surely our
stay at the Willmar Seminary has
been an encouragement for us to con.
tinue our effort to 60 onward in the
| path. Thanks to our teachers our
work has been made a pleasure. They
have been cheerful and have known
how to enliven our recitation periods
so that we can recall them as hours
of pleasure. Only the future lies be-
fore US. Let us make the most of 1t.
May at least some of our hopes be
real and not all idle fancies. We have
but one life to live and we should live
it so that we may be an example of
pure and noble character, of a life
without blemish, life of truthfulness
and love. Our country needs and
wants truly great men and women.
She is calling for them in the words
Of J. G. Holland:
God give US men! A time like this
demands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith,
and ready hands,
Men whom the lust Of Office does not
kill
Men who possess opinions and a will
Men who have honor, who will not lie
Men who can stand before a dema.
gOgue
And scorn his treacherous batteries
without winking
Tall men, uncrowned, who live above
the fog
In public duty and In private thinking
For while the rabble with their thumb
worn creeds
Their large professions, and their lit.
tie deeds
Mingle in selfish strife, 10! Freedom
weeps
Wrong rules the land and waiting
Justice sleeps"
Dear Teachers:
Our relation as teachers and stud.
ents is now at an end. But our inter.
est in each other I am sure will still
continue. We feel that you will re.
jo1ce at our success and grieve at ou1
failure. You have helped us so that the
results which we have accomplished
would be Of value to us. Your kind
ness and patience has awakened in
our hearts a feeling Of gratitude tc
you which we cannot fully express
In years to come we will appreciate
the value of your advice and admon
ishings which we before did not un.
derstand as we'll as we should have
Dear teachers in behalf of the class
I wish to thank you for your guiding
care and for all you have been to us
while we have been here.
} Fellow Students:
To you also we wish to say a word
of parting for with you we have spent
most of our times here. Friendships
are, as a rule, founded upon and per
petuated by a mutual feeling OF genu
inc respect and regard. Such is the
friendship We feel toward you. With
out your presence, your cooperation
and your sympathy our lot would have
been far less pleasant. May you al
ways prosper and we thank you to1
your friendship, for your loyalty and
your good fellowship.
My Classmates:
The time has come for US, when We
| mt 1n1v a GLASS eo,r 20,