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MAY
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'he Chemawa American
P r in t e d a t C h e m a w a , O re g o n , a n d D e v o te d to th e In te r e s t s o f In d ia n E d u c a tio n
Vol. X X III
W ednesday, APRIL 13, 1921
AM BITIO N
We hear a good deal these days from our students
about their ambitions. We often wonder as to just
how many sacrifices they are willing to make in order
to attain their ambitions—positions in life which they
claim to desire so much. Students, are you willing
to cut out little luxuries and pleasures, to forego
many of the desires you have been accustomed to
gratify? Have you the backbone, or the grit, to stand
all sorts of discouragements—to work on and on with
out losing heart? How much criticism, misunder
standing and scolding can you stand, anyhow? Have
you the pluck and perseverance to go on when others
fall down or drop out, to continue the struggle when
your friends have given up and advise you to do the
same? Do you realize that pure laziness is at the
bottom of more failures than all other factors com
bined?
People who do not succeed in this great land of
ours, where opportunities abound on every hand, are
not willing, speaking generally, to pay the price of
success in hard work, in concentration on their ambi
tions. It takes nerve and a large amount of energy
and work to win anything worth while. Get the
thought that somebody will do your work for you
out of your mind right now. Success is founded on
drudgery, sacrifice, painstaking, persistent labor.
That man or woman, boy or girl, who has not the
grit, will power, or courage, to stick and strive for the
thing wanted will always find plenty of excuses for
failure. There are always too many things in the
way, too many obstacles to overcome. There is al
ways something the matter with the school, the teach
er, the shop equipment, or the system employed, and
and the like. Such students—such people—never
seem to realize that the trouble lies with themselves.
Do not blame your faults, such as lack of energy,
your indolence and indifference, on others, but put
it where it belongs—on yourself. The great trouble
is that so few people are willing to sacrifice the nearest
pleasure, the closest comfort, a good time, for the fu
ture, and by failing to buckle down to the business of
preparing for the future, throw away priceless oppor
tunities for education, lor self-improvement, and shirk
responsibilities which might open the way to a great
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career, avoid experiences which would give them
stamina and courage; make them wise, efficient, suc
cessful. Because of this they will go through life
shallow, superficial, ignorant, and end their days as
total failures.
Everyone who has reached distinction, who has
lived a life really worth while, who has tried to make
the most of himself, and has given up his best to the
world, has had to sacrifice a good many things which
would have been pleasant and enjoyable, some of
which are in line with things directed to our readers’
attention in former articles.
We are all—every one of us—so constructed that
we cannot respect ourselves if we do not do our part,
our share, of whatever work lies at hand. No-one
who shirks, can ever quite respect himself; he has
that innate feeling of being dishonest.
Let us affirm that not one boy or gill in a million
will bring out the best in him- or herself, will ever
grow to the heighth of their possibilities, if they lack
ambition or fail to apply themselves, for where there
is no struggle, no self-help, there is no growth.
You cannot develop without exertion, or grow with
out effort, without a struggle to upbuild. It is this
that develops courage, confidence, self-reliance. The
exercise of your powers is imperatively necessary, to
gether with resolution, determination and grit, coupled
with a vigorous endeavor, to achieve one’s ambition.
Remember that—
No person succeeds whose character is built up in
idleness.
People without ambition, or an honest desire to
attain it, are weaklings—nobodies.
There is only one way to build up a strong, vigor
ous character, and that is to associate one-self with
Honest Purpose and Hard Work.
Did you notice how many Juniors were in action at
the track meet between the E.L.S. and R. L. S.?
All sophs and seniors should be prepared when the
class day track meet takes place.
The painters have finished the Small Boys’ Home
and are busy on Brewer Hall. We have a great deal
of painting to do and from the present indications the
detail will cover considerable of it in a short time.