Listed here are two things my mother wrote when she was in high school that I thought were very unique, especially considering how young she was then.

In this section you will see a poem she wrote and in the section below an article about study habits, both I found to be quite profound!

 IF EVERYONE WOULD TAKE THE TIME

If everyone would take the time to show how much he cares, for love of heart, and soul, and mind is very nearly rare.

If everyone would take the time to understand a friend when he is troubled, down and out, our words could help to mend.  A lonely heart that's begging for someone to show the way and make a burden easier he carries day to day.

If everyone would take the time to lend a helping hand, this world would be much easier to love and understand.

Recreant Poem

As I see through unknown eyes,

The world is changed from just one lie.

All people went on their daily chores,

Never having known of the gluttonous whore.

Fear was strong and not contrite,

Stimulating our desires to “Flight or Fight.”

Not Timmy, not Allie, not Jake, nor Walker,

Could lessen the ravenous hunger.

They pressed on, in a subdued gaze,

While all the world became ablaze.

In just one instance, it was made so,

The skies turned bright, a deathly glow.

As the winds of despair wiped all the world clean,

Allie and Timmy ran from the scene.

Arriving in a land, frozen and cold,

The lie was revealed from ancients of old.

Our world had no meaning from this merciless lot,

So staggering the judgment, coping Allie could not.

They took her in hand and made her forget,

But alas, the story is not finished yet.

There is something greater, something more strong,

The end for the Father will not be too long.

So worry not for what tomorrow brings,

Fear will be coming to reap the death of the King.

Study Habits

What can the student who wants to improve his study habits do about the problem?  How can he blot out a weakness that keeps him from doing his best work?  He can do what Teddy Roosevelt did.  You remember that he got tough with himself.  He went out of his way to face hardships.  He trained himself to win in spite of these hardships.

If you find it hard to study in a noisy place, start studying in the bus as you ride to school.  Try doing some reading in your living room while members of your family are talking.  Do some of your school work while your friends are seeing a track meet.  Don't do it to feel sorry for yourself.  Do it to gain rugged strength.

Do not be afraid to tackle problems that are new or tough.  In his youth, Jack Dempsey often boxed with men who were bigger and better than he was.  He got knocked down and out many times, but he knew that this was the only way he could improve.  He did improve, and you know about the fame that has come to him as the man with the iron heart.

In talking to young people, Dempsey has said that there are no short cuts in sports of any kind.  He adds that we must live right and work hard because it is the only way to win in school as well as in the ring.  Train your mind to be tough while you are young.  You will be surprised at the ease with which you can meet hard problems later.

Do not turn away from subjects that are dull or hard for you to meet.  Meet them head-on; fight the good fight.  One of your jobs in school is to train your mind to think and do work for you.  Once you have taught it to do this, you will find that you can handle with ease the subjects in which you have some real interest.