The game has been played; the last move is made on graduation night. Some of the rules will never be applied again, and some of the rules will never be forgotten. It has been a long game, a four‑year marathon; and as in all games, some have won and some have lost. Success cannot be measured only by class rank or the number of activities in which a student has participated. The real success will not be known for a long time, and success may not be financial or carry a great deal of power.

The students who have learned to grow as people and learned something about what life is all about‑the students who have not been stifled‑are the ones who are the real successes. The young men and women who have learned enduring values and the paths their lives must take are the real successes. Students who have had teachers who are real teachers have been lucky. Students who have had teachers who regard their profession as only a job have been cheated in this most important game.

Seniors in high school are subjected to great masses of advice from people. These people see our future better than we do. They see the pitfalls and the challenge; but we are too young to listen and are only wearied by their words, which make life seem very serious and dreary. We are going to be on our own, at college or a new job, for the first time in our lives. There won't be any more dress codes or detentions or parents signing report cards. The rules will be society's rules, which are just as demanding, but much harder to learn. The life ahead of us is going to be much more impersonal, and nobody's going to care as much for us. It will be more exciting, fulfilling, and meaningful. It will finally be our lives to do with as we wish.

High school, regarded as the center of our lives, will become a piece of nostalgic memorabilia; and as we grow older, it will look better and better and will be recalled more fondly than anyone could now imagine. Bitter memories will soften and painful events will take their proper perspective. We will take greater pride in our school and be prouder of its national standing. We might even remember the "Alma Mater." We'll want to have a class reunion, and we'll like to visit the old place.

Although many students are glad to graduate and say that they aren't going to feel sad, it's hard to believe that someone wouldn't feel a bit nostalgic about leaving the institution that has changed their lives so much. The freshmen that entered in 1962 are entirely different people from the ones that walk out of Maine East's field house holding a new diploma. A whole segment of life is done; a door is closed. It is a rare person who could leave without a backward glance.

High schools have a big job to do. They have to outfit a student with basic skills to enable him to compete in the future. The success of the preparation is of vital concern to the student and the community. We can only hope our school has done a good job and that we have taken advantage of the preparations.

The Class of 1966 will be gone, the IBM cards will be meaningless because there are no more people behind them. There will be new seniors and new counselors. The school will go on without us, but the school will always be a part of us.