~ The Chemawa American
OREGON
COLLECTION
P r in t e d a t C h e m a w a ,
Vol. XXVII
O re g o n , a n d D e v o te d to t h e In t e r e s t s o f In d ia n E d u c a tio n
Wednesday, September 23, 1925
MAKING AN EFFORT
In all schools and colleges there are various kinds of
students, some with great ambition, others mediocre,
and all of them say that they desire an education.
Some are willing to give every ounce of effort; others not
willing to work themselves, but wish to lean on the
other fellow or depend on the teacher and slip through.
The latter class do not seem to realize that there is
a tremendous difference between wishing to get on
and determining to get on; between the desire that
has no force in it and the desire which grips every
fibre of one’s being with a determination to win'at
any cost. These very students had impressed upon
them the difference between a drifting, unsuccessful
career, waiting for something to turn up, and taking
off one’s coat and plunging into the making of a ca
reer with a grim determination which knows no defeat.
Young people, it does not seem to matter how much
ability you have, if you lack the power of determina
tion that knows no surrender, which fixes the goal and
never turns back, you certainly will not achieve any
thing worth while, anything distinctive. 5-No youth
starts out right until he feels that it is up to himself
alone to make good. Until h e has gotten over the
idea that he must wait for somebody to give, him a lift,
to boost or push him forward before he can begin to
improve his work; until he has decided that he, and
he alone, shall be the builder of his own education or
career, the real man or woman will never be built.
W e see all around us young people who are waiting
to be pushed, boosted, helped, but such young folks
will never amount to much unless they show self-
reliance and courage. The self-reliant and courageous
chap will make good in spite of all handicaps and ob
stacles, and all influences that will be presented to
hold him back.
W e have come in contact with young people who
are always talking of the wonderful things they would
do if they had the chance of others; they had no one
to send them to college, nobody to help them make
their lives more complete, their achievements worth
while. Such sentiments as those get you nowhere.
There are thousands of boys and girls in our col
leges and schools of higher education who would never
have been there but for their faith in themselves and
No. 2
their stern resolye, gome what might, to get an educa
tion. Many of these were not only poor, but had
others depending upon them. Yet despite all their
handicaps they resolved that they must and would,
somehow, sometime, in, some way, get an education.
You will be astonished to find that the moment you
cut off all outward assistance you will be reinforced by
a new power from within which you never dreamed
that you possessed. But it will never come to your
aid until you stop depending and leaning on someone
else and stand erect on your own feet.
W e think one of the worst misfortunes that can be
fall any young person is that of being relieved of the
necessity of developing self-help qualities. Those
thus relieved seldom develop into a strong and vigorous
type of manhood or womanhood.
Training in self-help and self-reliance are just as
essential for a youngperson as is training in any of
the industries in which a life career is desired. Say
what you will, as surely as the sun shines, the supreme
meaning of man is the development of power, and
nothing but determined effort and self-reliance will
develop your greatest strength andbring out the best
that is in you.
It has been our observation that there is no satis
factory place in life for a man or woman who has no
stamina, no courage in his nature, who is simply ma
terial for stronger minds to manipulate for their own
advantage.
HHHH
.
.
Young folk, no one in the world is capable of making
your life program for you. On you, and you alone,
depends your future. A ny one who has a definite
purpose in view, who is in earnest in his purpose to
attain his ambition and make life count, will not ask
another to tell him how he can make things happen.
It is push, energy, virility of character, tenacity of
purpose, clear grit and will power, that make things
happen. If you wait for some one else to set things
moving, or to tell you just when and where and how
you can do this, you will move forward very slowly, if
at all. On the contrary if you are built of the sturdy,
self-reliant stuff that does not balk at obstacles, nor
cry out for assistance at every little difficulty, you
will win the battle in spite of a lot of other possible
defects.
(Continued on page 4)