Last weekend was my 25th high school class reunion – Baldwin County High School Class of
'89. While I wasn't there in person, I was there in spirit with my
former classmates. Looking through all the photos of the reunion
that were posted on Facebook by my classmates this week, I was taken
back to my very first day on the BCHS campus.
I entered BCHS as a freshman the fall
of 1985. I went from a class of around 40 students at my junior high
school to about 400 in my freshman class. My
plan for the first day was to keep a low profile until I got my bearings, but that
didn't happen. I arrived at school with my brother, who was
handsome, an upperclassman, a football player, and one of the most
popular kids on campus. All morning, I had girls introducing
themselves to me and asking if I was Tony's sister. Then, they would
giggle, tell me how cute he was, and ask if he was dating anyone. Seriously!
Surviving my brother's fan club was
easy compared to the reception that I received from some of the
teachers. Yes, on the first day, my high school biology teacher
singled me out in front of the class to let me know that, while I was
the brightest at my junior high school, at best I would fade into mediocrity
in high school. I also got called to the office that day for a
conference between my dad and the Principal over my math class. I had
registered for algebra but was instead placed in basic math. It
resulted in a standoff where the Principal refused to move me, I
refused to do any of the assignments in the class, and my
parents went to the School Board. Two weeks later it was decided
that if I made at least a C on the first algebra test that I could
enter the class. The pressure was on me as the test was the next day
and I didn't have the text book to study. Despite this, I made a B on the
test and was finally placed in the correct class.
Luckily, the groupies soon dissipated.
While I floated among the different social groups, I made a few
strong friendships that lasted through the end of high school. We
would mainly hang out at school and occasionally on the weekends. We
laughed. We argued. We talked about boys. However, my dating life
was practically non-existent – with the exception of my boyfriend
freshman year and a dear male friend who took me to the big school
dances. I was shy and extremely focused on my studies, and I think
that guys were intimidated by me. I also think that they were scared
of my brother. It would be interesting to hear my male classmates
perspective 25 years later; so, speak up please!
Despite my biology teacher's warning, I
excelled academically. I made straight A's, was named Most Likely to
Succeed by my senior classmates, and graduated valedictorian. I was
the first to walk out on the field to proudly receive my diploma, and
despite all the tears, hugs, and promises made that night to friends
that we would keep in touch, our lives took different paths and our
friendships faded. Besides my cousin, I lost touch with everyone in
my graduating class.
And then Facebook came along, and we
began to reconnect. And I love it! I love to read the snippets of
their lives, see pictures of their families, celebrate their
successes, give comfort when needed, and of course, argue about
college football (WAR EAGLE). So, here's to the next reunion and hoping
that I'll be there to hug each and every one of y'all!
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