2 3 1925
3
Mar
a
The ChemaWaAmerican
Printed at Chemawa, Oregon, and Devoted to the Interests of Indian Education
Vol. XXVI
Wednesday, May 20, 1925
PULL TOGETHER
The first thing we wish to say is that we hope to im
press it upon your minds that co-operation, pulling
together, loyalty, is what wins, is what produces re
sults, produces harmony, produces good will. A unit
ed pulling together of any class, any society, the
student body, a pulling together of all at Chemawa,
this great school, would transform it into one grand
pleasure ground of splendid results; would transform
the attitude of every boy and girl, every employe, and
a splendid progress would be made. A school, a
class, society, which stands for co-operation, unity
of purpose, makes tremendous headway.
The next thing we wish to say is that the extent
to which you use your imagination, the extent in
which you anticipate the things which ought to be
done, while seeking an education and building char
acter, stability of purpose, either gives the impetus to
go ahead and do all the things which you know ought
to be done, and do them without forever being told to
do them, or else turns you wrongly and you go the
wrong way. This will mark very largely the extent
to which your instructors, your teachers, will place
responsibility upon you, and you must not forget that
the boy or girl who can carry the greatest amount of
responsibility efficiently, and do it willingly, without
getting what is called the “big head,” is the one who
gets ahead the faster and fits himself for living the
better.
Boys, girls, if there is any work to be done after
hours you will be wise to take this added responsibil
ity. You will not have to run. or to push anybody
out of the way, to get this extra work, but just the
same you should show your eagerness to do that which
others are probably trying to get out of doing. Your
spirit of willingness will be noticed and you will gain
added confidence in yourself—and what splendid train
ing it is for you! The reward always comes for the
willing boy or girl.
Young folks, do not make the mistake of showing
your dislike for your fellow-students, or any teacher.
It is your business to make a success of your life,
both here as a student and as a worker after you com
plete your schooling, and to do so you will need the
co-operation of everyone with whom you come in con
No. 31
tact; therefore, make it your business to see that every
body likes you. You can do this alright by making
up your mind to like everyone around you. If you
allow yourself to fall into the habit of fussing, or
quarreling with your fellow-students, or disobeying
your teacher or other instructors, knocking those who
are over you, or if you do not get along smoothly, di
plomatically with them, you will not rise very high
in school, regardless of how efficient you may be in
other respects. Teachers do not like to bother with
students whose personalities attract clouds of despond
ency, complaints, knocking; they like those who at
tract rays of sunshine—happiness. Agitators, trouble
makers, and quarrelsome boys and girls are not pop
ular anywhere.
If you young people utilize any spare moments that
you may have in helping some fellow-student who
needs it in his work, the gain for you in good will on
the part of the other fellow is a big asset. You sim
ply cannot afford to be selfish. So we urge you
young folk to be cheerful and helpful. Take a smile
to school, to work, each morning, each afternoon.
Smiles are contagious, and the fellow who catches
yours will be glad that you are around.
Another thing important in the life of a boy or
girl, who is in earnest to fit himself properly for a
career, is to go to your classes or vocational work
with a definite idea of what you are going to do that
day. This will give you a greater interest in your
work and make you more efficient—render more rap
id progress possible. Besides all this you will have
a certain circle of friends—good friends—in your class,
and you will have a certain amount of influence over
them, either favorable or unfavorable; therefore, do
your level best to control your acts and your speech to
the end that this influence may be a wholesome one;
that it may be one that will make the department in
which you work, or your academic class, alive with
human interest and good cheer.
You can become the best-liked boy or girl, or the
most-hated person around, solely by your acts and
words. As long as you are a student, or occupy a
position where you are directed by a superior officer
(Continued on page 4)