Young Aurelia Schober was Winthrop High School Class of 1924's salutatorian and at graduation had to give a speech. She chose the topic "loyalty" and her speech was what anyone there would have expected, in no way radical. Although "obedience" and "virtue" and "Woodrow Wilson" today would seem strange coming from an 18-year-old, the text is so boilerplate classic I got AI to write me a 21st-century graduation speech about loyalty for comparison.
"Loyalty," by Aurelia F. Schober, salutatorian, Class of 1924, printed in The Winthrop High School Echo 1924, pp. 30-31.
Loyalty
Aurelia: Loyalty is that quality which makes a man a friend and a
worthy citizen, for loyalty is fidelity to our superiors, to duty, and to love.
No man can be of any true value in this world unless he is loyal to God, to his
fellow men, and to his own highest ideals. It is the one requisite demanded of
every human being that he be loyal to the one great Master who made him. No
real friendship can exist without loyalty on both sides. It is the duty of
everyone to guard his friend’s interests as though they were his own. How far
should this loyalty go? We all remember the answer of Christ when asked, “How
often should I forgive my brother? Seven times?” Christ’s answer, “Until
seventy times seven,” means, as we all know, that there should be no limit to
one’s forgiveness.
AI: Today, as we stand on the threshold of a new chapter in our lives, I
want to take a moment to reflect on a value that has been pivotal in
shaping our journey together: loyalty. In a world that often prioritizes
speed, convenience, and individual achievement, loyalty remains a
steadfast anchor, reminding us of what is truly important. Loyalty is not merely a word; it is a commitment to those we care
about, to our values, and to the principles that guide us. As we
celebrate our accomplishments today, let us consider how loyalty has
woven itself into the fabric of our experiences here.
Aurelia: In the same way there should be
no limit to our loyalty to our friends. If we are loyal to the good and noble characteristics of friendship, loyalty
should be bounded only by our friend’s need and our power. As we demand that
our friends “ring true” we should first be sure that we are giving them the one
great gift of friendship—loyalty.
AI: To our families, thank you for your unwavering support and guidance. You
have stood by us through our triumphs and challenges, reminding us that
loyalty is not just about being present during good times, but also
about being there when the road gets tough. Your belief in us has
inspired us to push through adversity, to strive for excellence, and to
remain steadfast in our goals. Today, we celebrate not only our
achievements but also the unwavering loyalty you have shown us.
Aurelia: Conflicting loyalties in friendship often occur. Should we
forsake our own sense of honor in order to be loyal to our friends? Lovelace
expresses this thought in the oft-quoted couplet:
“I could not love thee, dear, so much
Loved I not honor more.”
AI: To our teachers, your dedication to our education has been a testament
to the loyalty you hold for your profession and for your students. You
have invested your time, energy, and passion into shaping our minds,
nurturing our talents, and cultivating our character. Your loyalty to
our growth has ignited a flame of curiosity within us, encouraging us to
explore, to question, and to learn. As we leave this institution, we
carry with us the lessons you have imparted, and we are grateful for the
loyalty you have demonstrated to our futures.
Aurelia: In friendship we give our loyalty to those we love, but
there is a loyalty that is demanded of us—loyalty to our superiors. This means
we must obey those to whom obedience is due. If this were not an unbreakable
rule, no army could endure for a day. The quicker and better we obey orders the
more quickly and certainly shall we show ourselves fitted to give them when the
time comes. The man or woman who cannot obey can never govern.
AI: As we navigate the complexities of adulthood, we will inevitably face
choices that test our loyalty. In a rapidly changing world, it is
essential to stay true to our commitments—to our loved ones, our
friends, and our values. Loyalty requires courage; it requires us to
stand by our principles even when the winds of change threaten to sway
us. It asks us to remain faithful, not only to others but also to
ourselves.
Aurelia: Loyalty means obeying orders in the spirit as well as in
the letter. To be successful in life one must be loyal to one’s self. This loyalty is usually
termed “self-respect.” Unless we have self-respect, we cannot hope to win the
respect of others. Above all, we must be true to ourselves.
AI: Let us remember that loyalty is a two-way street. It thrives on mutual
respect, trust, and understanding. When we are loyal to others, we
inspire loyalty in return. We foster relationships built on a foundation
of integrity, and we create environments where collaboration and
support flourish. In our personal lives and professional pursuits, let
us always strive to be individuals who honor our commitments and uplift
those around us.
Aurelia: There is not a
better place to begin this loyalty than in school. There we meet the
temptation, probably for the first time, to do a thing in a way that is easier
although not quite so “square” as the right way. By overcoming those sometimes
termed “insignificant” temptations, we become loyal to the unwritten law of
“fair play” and it is the surest display of proper school spirit. Every
temptation overcome strengthens the character and helps us to be victorious
over even greater battles. Well has Shakespeare said, “To thine own self be
true, and it must follow as the night the day, thou cans’t not then be false to
any man.”
AI: As we embark on this new journey, I urge each of you to carry the spirit
of loyalty with you. In a world that often feels fragmented, let us be
the glue that binds. Let us cultivate loyalty in our friendships, our
families, and our workplaces. Be the person who shows up, who listens,
and who stands by others, for it is in these moments that we forge
lasting connections that enrich our lives.
Aurelia: Loyalty when practiced in everyday life helps us to answer
the call of a great cause during a great crisis—the call of loyalty to our
country in time of war. Here is where small practiced loyalties in school and
business help us to obey greater and more difficult orders. The habit of
loyalty and obedience, when once fixed, may save thousands of lives or turn a
defeat into a victory.
AI: Together, let us embrace the future with loyalty in our hearts and determination in our souls.
Aurelia: One of our greatest helps in learning to face duty rightly
and to prevent conflicting loyalties is to review the lives of those who lived
in the past, and thereby profit by their example. This is the value of true
hero worship. Abraham Lincoln was true to God, true to his fellowmen, and
true to himself. Loyalty was the secret of his success. Honesty and his name
have become proverbs. Woodrow Wilson was loyal to his highest ideals, and, while
he did not live to accomplish his end, he died working for his ideal. Surely the world must be
getting better when future generations have such noble influences as may be
gained by loyalty to the heroes of the past. A great man [Daniel Webster]
has said, “If we work upon gold, it will perish; if upon brass, time
will efface it; if we raise temples, they will crumble into dust. But if we work
upon immortal minds—if we imbue them with high principles, with the just fear
of God, with manhood and womanhood and the respect of it—we engrave on those
tablets something which no time can efface, but which will grow brighter
through all eternity.”
Aurelia: If loyalty has played and yet plays such an important part
in all lives, may not loyalty be called the “summum bonum” or greatest thing in
the world? Unswerving loyalty
means courage; and courage is an essential of a high character. If you wish to
be successful, you must be loyal. The upright man, the loyal man, fears not to
meet and cope with whatever difficulties are in store for him.
AI: Together, let us embrace the future with loyalty in our hearts and determination in our souls.
Aurelia: Phillips Brooks [Boston-based Episcopal clergyman, 1835-1893, famous preacher] expressed this sentiment when he said, “Do
not pray for easy lives! Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal
to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks! Then the doing of your
work shall be no miracle but you shall be a miracle. Every day you shall wonder
at yourself, at the richness of life which has come in you by the grace of
God.”
AI: In conclusion, as we celebrate our graduation today, let us not only
commemorate our accomplishments but also the lessons learned along the
way. Loyalty will be our guide as we navigate this uncharted territory.
May we always remain loyal to our dreams, our communities, and to each
other. Thank you.
[Aurelia's speech was followed by a speech on “The importance of athletics.”]