Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Magic of Being a Senior?

At this time 50 years ago we were a couple months into the school year, the first quarter having been completed and report cards issued, I suppose, and there were three games remaining in the football season.  So how did you feel about being a "senior"?  If not in 61-62, whatever year it was that you were a senior?

Personally I don't recall feeling much one way or another.  King of the hill?  Doubtful.  Glad to have one year to go?  Dunno.  Sad that it would soon be over?  Doubtful.

Was it really an achievement to have made it into the 13th year?  Let's face it, much of the drill is simply to move on to the next year.  We didn't have to pass any competency test other than passing grades, weren't required to climb a certain hill or run faster than a speeding bullet.  Call me a realist or a cynic, either one, and if you beg to disagree with the theory, send an email to nkhs62@gmail.com and let's discuss it!

Presumably everyone is happy to have made it through high school and research tells you that it's one of the milestones to financial success in life, but the feelings of being in the year itself?  Probably empty for the most part.  And now maybe a greater memory than the reality was.  What do you think?

4 comments:

  1. I came across an old saying last night watching Criminal Minds..."You leave the school but, the school never leaves you". Probably very true with most students but I don't believe to be true of all or we would have close to 100% participation with reunions.

    I am so looking forward to the 50th and I am going to make personal calls when it is announced to all those I have seen and those that did not make it. I was never close with Marilyn Weidler as well as several others and I have appreciated the opportunity of getting to know her; I want to be able to spend more time this next reunion with those that I didn't know that well.

    In so far as going on to the 13th year. We in California had to start testing in 11th grade for 4 year colleges and our senior year if you wanted to go to a JC (english and math placement tests to check your levels). I chose to go to work. My only desire was to be either a CIA agent or an attorney such as Perry Mason and I did not want to defend criminals - you couldn't survive on protecting the innocent ones!

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  2. Yeah, that Marilyn Weidler. She hardly ever spoke 2 words to me in HS and I kept trying to engage her in conversation and she ignored me! Kidding!!! What I mean is she's the perfect example of the classmate I never got to know, and over the past 18 months she's one of several who make me laugh and appreciate what we lived through.

    Stan Arendts is another one - and I was just thinking this afternoon that it wasn't until our senior year in track that I kind of got to know Stan, Arlyn, and the other guys from Kensett. You know - 30 days before the end of our final year. But it's never too late to catch up.

    I don't know that it's the school per se - it's the people in the school who were special. From Richard Holstad's interaction with classes before and after ours I can tell we're not the only classmates who have fond memories, and are perhaps fleshing them out today. It's been a pleasure!

    As far as going on to the next level, perhaps I was naive, or was never given much indication of what I should expect - or both. I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up so it's a good thing my income doesn't depend on that anymore. I wasn't given much career guidance either, and in fact just kind of happened into that path. I remember my dad telling me one time not to go into farming, and that's the extent of it.

    It's a routine story: too soon old, too late smart, but it is what it is.

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  3. I typed my name in the search box and this story came up. I haven't seen it before. No, I don't remember ever speaking to you in high school, Lee. Other than our play in 5th grade that we were in about "beating the rugs" in Mrs. Opheim's class. We maybe didn't have many classes together either, as my favorites were home ec & business courses. Anyway will make up for it next summer. OK?

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  4. Indeed we will make up next summmer. Was it also in that same "presentation" for Mrs. Opheim that two girls came onstage carrying satchels, set them down, stepped over them, started singing in very scratchy voices and then said, "We can't sing, we just got over the GRIP!"

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