High School was a long time ago

I'd written about some heavier topics this week, you know, like, depression relapses and rapists who receive idiotic punishment... so I thought I'd end it Friday with a little fun.  (after all, I had this in draft, and it didn't need much work to publish, so there you have it...less work for me; fun times for you.)

I'm stealing borrowing this post about High School Reflections from the lovely Audrey Louise; and it appears that she stole borrowed the post as well.  Folks, it has been *cough* 25 years since I graduated high school.  Yes, you read that correctly.  For me, that means I straddled the late '80s and early '90s for my high school experience.  For you, that means you get to see pictures from 25 years ago.  Holla for the big hair!

The yearbook photos

What kind of student you were in high school (popular, nerd, sport obsessed, choir, etc).

I'm not sure I fit into any one particular group.  I was on the high school drill/dance team and that consumed a lot of my time and attention.  I was friends with and in classes with so-called "nerds".  Funny enough, of those that I have contact with these days, most would fall into this group.  They grew up to be the wittiest, most intelligent, and interesting group (no surprise). 
For two years, I dated a football player, and you know, in Texas, football is like a religion.  And, I participated in and had friends in my church youth group.  While I was a die hard Bon Jovi girl (and lover of all hair bands), a few of my close friends were "new wave" kids who loved The Cure and The Smiths.  I went to some parties but didn't drink.  So, some of the "cool kids" weren't fans of me while others that I considered "popular" were good friends of mine.  I'd say I was pretty well-rounded, but yet, I didn't feel like I fit in to any one group 100% of the time.

About your school. Was it private? Public? How many in graduating class? Mascots? School colors?

My high school was a public school in the 'burbs of Houston.  I can't remember...I think we had 300ish in the graduating class.  Mascot - the War Eagles; colors - red, white, and blue; school fight song was to the tune of "Grand Ol' Flag", and I still remember the pom routine that we performed every time it played.

About some of your favorite memories of high school or what stands out the most. Any teachers? Specific classes?
As mentioned before, the good ol' Liberty Belles took up a lot of time and focus.  There were practices and camps, games and competitions, choreography and marching drills, costumes and meetings, try-outs, sore muscles, sprained ankles plus a fractured ankle and thumb (both needed casts at different times)...this was mixed with valuable lessons of hard work and dedication, memorable friendships, laughs, sweat, tears, and rivalries.

Other memories that come to mind as I type this:

• Thesis day in Mrs. B's English class (I had her sophomore and senior years); she'd wad up your paper and throw it across the room if she knew that you wrote it in homeroom before coming to class...and she knew...she always knew if you'd done a half-ass job.
• Reebok hi-tops ... I was kind of known for having pretty much every color that they made at the time.
• Sitting in Ms. S's Geography class on the back row with JY (don't know if people from that time want their name floating around the internet) and becoming each other's "back-up plan"...you know the one..."if I'm not married by 40, look me up, and let's get hitched" kind of plan.
• Our salutatorian (who I frequently still chat with on facebook) said in the closing of his speech "crossdressers need love too"...yes, he liked to push buttons and provoke the heavily populated Southern Baptist community.  He was ahead of his time.
• My 1984 Pontiac Firebird
• Mums - I think this is just a Texas thang, so let me explain...at Homecoming, you get this mum (as in the flower) with ribbons and gizmos and ribbons with stickers and lights and even more ribbons, and heck, the one I'm wearing in the picture below even played music!

A piece of advice you would pass on to your children or any child entering high school.

This advice from Miss Audrey Louise is pretty perfect: "Be nice to your friends and the kids that aren’t so popular. Be nice to teachers and administration and your parents. If all the fish in the sea aren’t being nice, swim the opposite direction and show some kindness."
Also, I'd say: Apply yourself.  Participate.  Be active.  Utilize mentors.  Speak your mind, but prepare to listen and learn as well.  Don't take yourself too seriously, but don't be a total clown either.

You know that you envy that hair.  My apologies to the ozone layer.

A piece of advice you would pass on to your children or any child exiting high school.
There was an old saying about high school: "these are the best years of your life."  No, they aren't.  Don't let that happen.  Appreciate the gift of life and what this great big world has to offer.  Travel.  If you can study abroad, do it, even for only a semester.  Do NOT use credit cards foolishly.  Debt is a bitch and can haunt you for years.  Put the effort to maintain friendships you feel are worth it.  Let go of the ones that aren't.  Open yourself up to meeting new people and learning new things.  Always keep learning.

Care to share your high school reflections?