What I was Like in High School (with photographic evidence)
Day 2 of Bloggy Summer Camp, What were you like in high school? What extracurricular activities, if any, did you take part in during high school? Did you consider yourself a writer?
Oh my gosh! What was I like in high school? I was a nerdy girl for sure but I was not without friends or people to eat lunch with. For me high school was a growing period. I started high school in the third track, which greatly disappointed my mother and I suppose myself. By senior year I’d worked my way up to first track and graduated 66th out of 233 girls. I don’t think I went one marking period without honors of some sort.
I suppose to tell you about myself in high school I’d have to first tell you about myself in grade (elementary) school. I was a misfit, a shy, nervous kid with an over-protective and anxious mother. If you are unsure how closely related humans are to the animal kingdom look no further than elementary school classrooms and schoolyards. Children can definitely sniff out the weaker child. I hated going to school each day so I looked forward to leaving the confines of my really, really, very small grade school to the much bigger high school.
I’m a misfit. I’ve always been a misfit but I found people who liked me as I was (am) in high school. I expanded my horizons and I blossomed as a person in high school. Back in grade school my second grade teacher told my mom that the other kids were bullying me and that I should grow a backbone. Yeah, I don’t know. I went to Catholic school. What can I say? I suppose it took until my freshman year in high school to grow that backbone. It was then that I had my most proud moment. I’m stealing the next snippet from my About Me section here on Soapboxville. One of my proudest high school moments came during freshman year in my religion class. A girl who liked to bully me (and I’m sure others) wanted my homework, but it was time to hand it in and I was more afraid of the nun who taught the class than the aforementioned bully so I wouldn’t give it to her. She had her friend (*snickers* they always have the friends do the dirty work) tell me to meet her in the bathroom after school. Being no dummy I just said no and lived in mortal fear for a few days. She never did anything and I’ve refused to allow anyone to bully me since.
It was that moment and an amazing algebra teacher that gave me legs to stand on and confidence. I finally started passing math and with that incredible achievement my spirits were bolstered, as was my self-esteem. From there I began my journey to adulthood. From there I walked toward the positive and the rest of my life. Somewhere between freshman year and graduation I learned to love and believe in myself. Every ounce of success I’ve ever had I owe to Ms. Danovich (algebra teacher) and that moment freshman year. Dear 2nd grade teacher, I grew that backbone and wings with no help from you.
Changing gears to move on to fluffier topics, I was a hair metal fan during the New Kids on the Block craze. I loved Bon Jovi and Motley Crue and Poison and Guns and Roses. I actually bought Appetite for Destruction on cassette on my way home from school at a small record shop on Passyunk Ave. I went to my first concert at the Philadelphia Spectrum (RIP) during my freshman year. We saw Bon Jovi. I went with my best friend Jenn and mom sent my brother with us for protection. *laughs*
In my life I’ve never wanted to be anything but a writer. My high school had a yearly literary publication that was distributed with our yearbooks, The Patroness. I was published twice during my 4 years. I don’t remember the second poem but this is the first poem I ever had published. I wish I could find my copies of The Patroness so I could remember what my second poem was.
Dancing Here Alone
Dancing here alone I hear a beautiful melody
a melancholy melody
Played on a piano
A beautiful, beautiful song
As I dance here all alone
All by myself
I dance so quietly
So beautifully
So, so alone
All by myself
The melody plays on and on
Inside my head I hear it
I feel it in my limbs
I dance, I dance
In my heart I feel it
In my ears I hear it
Through my feet I channel it
So alone
Alone in my heart
Alone in my room
Alone
I hear a beautiful melody
A melancholy melody
I think that’s about it for tonight’s walk down memory lane. I hope you enjoyed reminiscing about my high school years with me.
For even more embarrassing high school-themed photos visit my Embarrassing Photos — The Prom Pics post here.