The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1921-01-22
OURSELVES.

| have the honor of being chosen
by my class to represent them in
bidding YOU welcome to this our com
mencement program. We have been
looking forward to. this time for elev-
en- or more years and wondering ii
this night would ever come; and !
am sure that each of you looking
back to your own graduation will APP
preciate how happy we are and how
much we appreciate your presence
here. AT first was little puz-
zled over subject upon which to adj
dress you for | know so little about
the things that would interest all OF
you and then | realized that because
you had come to our commencement
YOU were surely interested in us ano
therefore | have chosen for my sub
iect Ourselves" and shall tell yot
little about our school life, the
work we have done. and what we fee
we have accomplished.
1t was eleven years ago that we
eleven little girls and four little boys
were taken by our mothers to schoo
for the first time in our lives. W.
shall always remember that frs
day-a day far greater than many t.
come later in life for it was the be
ginning of so many things. W.
were embarrassed and several fled
Some of the girls showed their dis
comfiture i'm tears and | could poin
out several young ladies on this stage
who wept bitterly that first day
But the wonderful primary teacher
that we had made us forget our lit
tie sorrows and soon we were lost il
our work and play. SO passed tn
first day and others like Ut !. Wewen
thru the days of Christmas trees
Easter hunts and every joy and plea
sure given young children. 81
When we were promoted to tn
grades at the high school we wer
very proud to think that we woul
be in the high school building, tina
| great structure. where more than on
teacher taught you. This was an
other great day--one of meeting al
the teachers, taking various assign
ments. and changing class rooms
Before a week had passed we fel
that we. knew as much about tn
school as the other classes did, onl
they persisted in calling us "Fresf
ie." title which we decidedly did nc
like. But that was only disagree
able and at times we forgot all abou
/ it. Here the friendships whic
i, had begun so much earlier grew an
} were strengthened. and ! am sur
that no matter how far apart on
! walks in life, may lead US, each men
Der of this class shall always have
friend in every one of us. For thos
! who have shared their youthful JOY
; and sorrows are friends for all times
! But our greatest friends | thin
! were the teachers, and in behalf {
) the class | wish to thank them a
/ for their splendid work in guidin
us, not only in our lessons, but ais
in the many little difficulties whic
arose during these years, and for TT
high ideals which they have encoul
! aged us to keep for ourselves. An
wish especially, to thank Mr.. b;
; hon, our principle, who has been wit
us during our entire high scho'
course and to whom we all owe
much. Together they made us rel
lie how great were our opportun
ties and then how we did study! {
course. there were times when LEI
sons were unprepared but we SOC
found that precious time was waste
and we redoubled our efforts. Mo-
of us, | think, have learned the Walt
of our school life and what it Wi
mean to us. 1t is, in truth, not on
the foundation of which knowledt