WITH THE EDITORWITH THE EDITOR
WITH THE EDITOR
As we look forward to the opening of school it is with feelings of a mixed nature. There is undoubtedly among some of us a lack of that ardor with which we hailed vacation. Nevertheless, none of us can fail to anticipate gladly the greeting of old friends and the return to that life which, though routine in its nature, will, in after years, be regarded as the brightest period of our existence.
In school, as in any other path of life, we can only get the most out by putting the most into it. The amount we accomplish, therefore, is determined in a great way by our powers of application. The boy or girl who can bring to bear his whole mind upon his lesson is bound to accomplish more than one who devotes a much longer period of time to broken study. Our great desire, then, if we wish to make the most of our school life, is to concentrate.
But this power of application is not only the secret of success in the school-room. Anyone who has cultivated it has taken an important step in their life, whether it be dedicated to study, business, or profession.
We are often brought into contact with persons not otherwise gifted, who continually surprise us by the amount they accomplish. Could we but make a study of them we would see that the greatest part of their ability lies in this same power of concentration. On whatever they undertake they put their whole mind. What appears to be a wonderful versatility is merely the ability to do one thing at a time, and to do it well.
Even in athletics, where success often comes to those who are apparently not making the most of themselves otherwise, it is this same power which excels. Should many of the young folks who have become proficient in athletics at the expense of their studies, concentrate upon their lessons as closely as they do upon their exercise, they would have become intellectual leaders as well.
Now, as the new period of our school life approaches, let us meet it with a full realization of its value to us. Then only will we be able to reap its full benefit. The secret of accomplishing the most and making the best of our time is by concentrating upon our task. Whether it be our lessons, our work, or our play, we can succeed only by bringing to bear upon it our whole mind and strength. Then, too, it is only when we have made our school days days of accomplishment that we can derive the fullest enjoyment from our vacation.