No school for Summer...

But I still had homework?

So, almost a month ago, a group of girls I graduated high school with and I got together. It was a lot of fun! We had all reconnected through our blogs and it had been really neat to learn about each other through that medium. I think it’s safe to say we all knew each other and had classes together, but as a whole group, we weren’t necessarily in the same circles. But that night, we came together and shared lots of memories and stories. We laughed, ate and sipped like long lost friends without missing a beat. The communications since have been really amazing in bringing us even closer together, and today, almost a month later, I couldn’t be more thankful for these relationships.

That night we came up with a prompt for us to each blog about. We were to share some of our favorite memories and teachers from that time. I’ve been wracking my brain and I don’t really have one particular memory that outshines the rest. I remember snippets of Shy-Anne camps, practices, competitions and trips that were equally work and fun. I remember working with a number of people the years I was on the yearbook staff. Selling advertising to area businesses and creating our layouts was great. I remember Disciple Now weekends with my church youth group. I had several crushes during HS – none confessed or realized – and the flutter that came with passing them in the hall and getting a hi or smile, praying with my hand on their jersey after football games and dreaming of how nice it’d be if they ever noticed me.

I can remember some key moments in history that happened while I was in HS. I’ll never forget where I sat when the OJ verdict came through – I was at the back table in the upstairs food court and the reaction was nearly deafening. I remember watching news coverage of Selena’s murder during Spanish class in the library. I remember turning right onto Briarcrest and hearing the newsflash about the Oklahoma City bombing. While those aren’t exactly happy memories – they are as distinct in my mind as driving down Barak Lane in my green civic jamming to Gangsta’s Paradise.

As for teachers, I can’t think of any that I necessarily have bad memories of in HS – except maybe Mrs. H. By the time I was in Spanish IV, she was as done with us as we were with her. That’s another post – and this one is supposed to be positive. While I learned more book knowledge in english, history and science (math had no chance – haha!) and appreciated those teachers, my favorite teacher was Mrs. Farris who taught journalism and yearbook.

I really looked up to her and thought she had the perfect life with her police officer husband and three adorable children. If I remember correctly, she had survived cancer in her thyroid – and if I’m wrong, by all means correct me. She had faith in her students and gave us a lot of freedom in designing/creating the yearbook each year. She encouraged me to step outside the box and compete in UIL journalism events. And when she had to face adversity (i.e. had money stolen by a student), she did so with discretion and grace. She furthered proved to be a class act when things in her life were made public. I enjoyed her class and learned more “real-life” lessons than in any other I took.

P.S. – Kristin – I read yours before finishing mine and agree about the diversity. When others have slammed “big” schools (most people I interact with graduated from 2A schools), I have always said I appreciated going to a big school. I learned firsthand how to deal with people from every walk of life and saw the importance in making wise choices regarding friendships. It’s an experience I wouldn’t trade and I believe makes me a more tolerant, compassionate person.