Validictory Speech by Anna Marie Wiley

at her High School Graduation
June 5, 1917 as printed in the Pierce City Leader
Although this was written by Anna Marie Wiley, it was read by Loudemah Palmer as Miss Wiley was suffering from a bad case of laryngitis. Her daughter had Anna Marie copy it in her own hand just before she died. "Today we are graduating after twelve years of schooling for most of us. Today our world is at war and anytime now our government will be sending many of our young men "Over There", as the song goes. Some may be here in this auditorium today. Why? we ask. Our president says, "to make our world safter for democracy". I wonder if it will. Some of us here today may never see each other again. Some will enter the armed forces. Others go to other places for higher education or jobs. For all we hope and pray for a measure of success and a lot of happiness. For the many teachers that have helped and guided us these past years we are very grateful. For some today will be the end of our schooling, but not our education, as life will give us that as we live it from year to year. Education, no matter how far we go or how many degress we obtain, cannot guarantee us success or even a job. It can only give us the skills we need to find a job and succeed. The all important attitude and desire, we must generate ourselves. So let us try to do as our beloved teacher Lillian Paxton has so often advised. "Do just a little more than is expected of you on any task that may come your way." If we follow this and the advise of a great many other teachers and obey the Golden Rul, with God's help we will come to success and a happy life.
Submitted by Susan R. Fison