The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-05-25
you; in

harder master than you; in the
school of experience.
/ have often heard old Professor
Jacks IN used to say, that experience
was the hard teacher of US all; the
difference between the wise man and
the fool being, that the fool must need
have experience Of his own in order
to learn, while the wise man has
learned to profit through the mis-
takes Of others. 1t is with this in
view that we have, at great sac-ific
of time, trouble and expense, builded
these magnificent institutions and
equipped them, that therein might be
pointed out to you what others have
done. Here is where your mind is
trained and developed and taught to
execute the ideas your brain might
conceive Here is where your destiny
is shaped, your foundation Laid; be
sure that you make it sound.
How many of you undergraduates
have ever thought of this before?
How many of you have ever consid-
cred the time, the anxiety and the
money that have been expended in
order that you might be properly
equipped for the future? If you will
take advantage of all the opportuni-
ties here afforded you, it will mean
to you much more than these honor
which you may think the goal; it
will mean that you will have laid a
proper foundation on which to build
your future success. 1t is not the hon
ors, or the flowers, or the pretty
dresses, or the medals, that bring
forth the tears of Joy in mothers eye
and dads proud smile; they are but
silent testimonials of a prayer full
filled, of patient sacrifices rewarded.
But the real Joy in the bottom of their
hearts is the realization of what these
exercises evidence; that their boy and
girl have taken advantage of their op-
portunities and have laid a founda.
ton, and they know what it will
mean to them in later life.
To you, young ladies and gentlemen
of the graduating class, much might
be said by one of more matured judg-
ment and age, but which would i'll
become me. Above all, however. YOU
are to be congratulated on your at
tainment. 1t is the hope and earnest
wish of each and every one of your
many friends here tonight that this
but marks the beginning of a bright
and splendid career in an institution
of higher learning, and in your LIES
work l am sure that you realize.
equally as well as do, that you have
not learned it all. What will surprise
you however-and l say this advised
ly, because l am now speaking from
experience-what will surprise you.
will be the discovery you will later
make that you know scarcely any
thing 1t will cause you jolt, and
it will shake your self-confidence a
bit, but with perseverance, grit and
determination you will. survive it.
There will be many times when your
thoughts will wander back to these
early school days, and with a feeling
of longing tinged with pangs of re.4
greet, you will wish that you might.
live through them once more. Then
it will be that you will fully appre-
ciate, this institution and all it has
done for you, and you will cease to
it a place wherein you. daily
drudged along, mere mass of mortar,
brick and stone, of chairs and desks
and tables. 1t will take on new
to you and you will see
It in its true Ight-a living, breath
ing, lovable inspiration-your Alma
Mater.