Image provided by: Library of Congress; Washington, DC
About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 1925)
I 3 1925 . 3 MAY8 The ChemawaAmerican Printed at Chemawa, Oregon, and Devoted to the Interests of Indian Education Vol. XXVI Wednesday, February 25, 1925 CHOOSE GOOD COMPANIONS Young people, the influence of your companions mark out your course very largely for good or bad— mar or help you. Most young people are what their companions make them. The characters of the ma jority are formed largely by accident, not by mature purpose. Nearly every failure we see is caused by the influence of others. It is hard to find a young man or woman who has failed—a social or moral wreck— but their misfortune can be attributed to the influence of a false or misguided friend. Companionship is a leading force in life. Every boy and girl of health and spirit has a friend. These friends are of two kinds—the helpful and the hurtful. Rare it is that the influence of an other lacks power. It is natural for a boy or girl to like some one, desire them as a companion to run with and in whom they may confide. It is as natural for each young person at Chemawa and elsewhere to like another and desire to be with them as it is for them to breathe. It is likewise quite as natural for a young person to absorb from that companion whatever good or bad he has to give off. All men and women who remember their school days need not be told that the influence of a chance companion, picked up at school or elsewhere, may strike deeper and last longer than the thousand times reiterated advice of father or mother, or teachers, disciplinarians, matrons, or others. Why, there has hardly ever been a boy or girl expelled from school but they were started on the down grade through the influence of a bad companion. All this is a queer phase of human nature, but it is true, and, being true, must be reckoned with at Che mawa as at other places in our plans for upbuilding. The point we wish to make is that the wise boy or girl will be very careful with whom they choose to chum. When youth grows older it is easier to dis criminate in the selection of associates. While at Chemawa, young friends, your characters will be formed. During the period of from 12 to 20 years of age, when your nature is plastic and impres sions form easily and quickly, companions come main ly by pure chance. The real time to select and dis criminate is right at the start. We truly believe that as much hangs upon what kind of a boy, what kind of No. 19 a girl, you select to run with and take deep into your inner life and confidence, as upon practically all other kinds of influences. Associations will form on the line of natural selec tion. We have never observed a case where advice has been effective in regard to the selection of a friend. The boy or girl of impure habits will usually mingle with those of the same trend. Birds of a color flock together. What is wanted at our school, what is necessary everywhere, trustworthiness and reliability, is an in fluence for good, and by manly or womanly independ ence, backed by sound judgment and common sense, each one of our young people can have proper com panions. Hunt for a boy or girl who has aspirations and ideals. If such a kind does not turn up, hunt them up. You will find that such a one wants you, for friendships of the higher sort are, as a matter of fact, not so common. After you form a companionship, cultivate and elevate the friendship. Help each other in every little thing that builds up manhood and wo manhood. Encourage each other to despise the shift less, the mean, the unclean. Surprisingly quick others will see this type of man hood and womanhood, which after all is most attractive to young people, and you will be the nucleus of an ever-widening group. By so doing you will make sure of your own character and become an influence for the good of others and in due time take your place in the company of the world’s helpers. DETAIL FOR WEEK Sunday escort for girls, March 1 McBride Hall Winona Hall Teacher No. 14 Gardener Laborer Prin. Home Economics Chaperone girls to Salem, Feb. 28 House Mother Small Boys Visitors to societies, Feb. 27 Nonpareil—Blacksmith Winona—1st asst. H. M. Winona Reliance—Carpenter Excelsior—Superintendent No. 1—Prin. Home Economics No. 2—Laundress No. 3—Cook No. 4—Teacher No. 10
