HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-09-28, Page 41Goaerc`h
SIGNAL,
Souvenir Edition For 1978 GDCI Graduates
The work has
only begun, kids
BY ANNE MARIE HOWARD
Mr. Stringer, honoured
guests, fellow grads.
Time has a strange habit of
Tasting forever, yet passing
quickly when you wish it to
endure. It flows past your
grasp • in an endless stream
that leaves little but
memories in its wake. It is on
times such as tonight that I
often wish I could reach out
and capture those fleeting
seconds in a ' bottle. For
tonight, brings to an end a
very special time in our lives -
that of our high school years.
When we first entered
G.D.C.I. as bewildered grade
nines, the days seemed to
stretch ahead endlessly as
everyone counted the months
until June. It is not until we
hear the names of our former
classmates being called off as
they receive their diplomas,
that we realize how short
those years actually were.
Yet, short as they .were,
those few years that, we spent
at G.D.C.I. formed' one of the
most important periods of our
life. By providing us with an
education, which' may have
been unwelcome on occasions
such as exams, they paved
the way for our future careers
and ambitions. At the same
time they gave each of us a
chance to mature .by ex-
panding our horizons, and
discovering our own unique
talents. The person we are
now, is in part, a product of
those discoveries.
Just as important are the
many friendships that we
formed in those years.
Sharing the same ex-
periences and difficulties
tends to create lasting co-
valent bonds and ties between -
people..
etweenpeople... It seems that when
the memories of ...essays _ and.
tests begin to fade, the ;faces
and the names of the people
wko suffered through them
with you remain.
There is another group of
people that stands out when
recalling G.D.C.I. and those
are the teachers. Without
their assistance and concern
it is doubtful whether or not
we would be here tonight.
They guided us when we
needed it most, all the while
enduring our endless excuses
and complaints. It is to them
that we owe much of< our
success and gratitude.
Success always seems to be
partially derived from the'
people who surround you —
friends, teachers and above
all, parents. Parents are that
often overlooked' and- un -
praised group . that stands
beside their chlldren.Despite
the frequent differences in
opinion, they are always
there when we need -en-
couragement and love. When
we are with life's seemingly
unsurmountable problems it
is our parents that we turn to
most often.Sometimes that
fact is overlookedin'the daily
hassles., Tonight's com-
mencement is as much their,
occasion for pride as it is
ours.
It is a certainty that the
graduates 'who leave here
tonight have come a long way
from the uncertain students
that once crossed the
threshold. It is also true that
we have still a long distance
to travel. It is my wish that
each of my. fellow grads may
travel that distance with
success and honour. Perhaps
our future is best expressed in
the immortal words of one of
my former teachers, "I think
we'll just work on
tomorrow." Indeed, our work
has just begun.
Anne Marie Howard as valedictorian urged studEnts to
"work on tomorrow" to prepare themselves for the
future ahead. She received a standing ovation from her
classmates. (staff photo)
GDCI staff awards..are considered to be a bit of a plum at the annual commencement
exercises each year. The awards are set up'by the leachers and the winners are selected
by the teachers. This year's winners were Nelsen Petersen and Karen Donnelly. Accor-
ding to teacher G. A. Sutton who made the awards, Petersen and Donnelly are,"total
students", showing high academic achievement and leadershipqualities as well as active
participation in the extra -curricular program at the sschool. Petersen was a •cornerstone of
Donnellyas w_ell was student council
president during the difficult teachers''r
sik of the 77-78 se .chess club chool le l year. (staff photo)
There were six Ontario scholars at GDCI during the 1077-'78 school year. These students
have attained an average of 80 percent or better, for six Year 5 credits. Each will receive
5100' from the Province of Ontario e They are (left to right', back row) Nelson Petersen,
David Best, Keith McLellan; (front row) Judy Robinson, Anne Marie Howard and Paula
Butler.- Miss Butler came from Nova Scotia to attend commencement exercises Friday
evening with her former classmates, (staff photo)