My school years

I did not hate my high school but did not love it either.  I had some problems there. I did attend a Catholic school until the eighth grade so the transition to a public school did take some time. I was not a bad kid or a great athlete or a brilliant student so fitting in was hard.

My school had at least four social clubs (gangs) that kind of ruled the school unless you played sports or were in the top 20.  I was neither. I was a year older and started working at the end of my Sophomore year.  I would leave for work ,at the Burger Chef, right after school.  I usually worked until ten at night and worked one day on the weekends. I have no reason why both the school or my parents allowed me to work so much.

I never had the time to become involved with any groups or activities centered around my school. I never acted bad enough or pushed any one around so the social clubs were out as were the sport teams. The teachers never took much interest either. The guidance dept never called me in for my bad grades or asked me why my two major subjects were Metal shop and English.  I started out as a 135lb sophomore and ended up a 175 lb Senior.  I guess that by the time I was getting ready to graduate I could take care of myself and did not have to stay clear of the members of the social clubs (gangs) that did push weaker students around. What makes me mad today was the fact that my school actually let these bullies wear their colors around school. They even wore their jackets and shirts to class and in class everyday. How or why did the school allow that?

I did graduate though and joined the Air Force thinking I was stupid and without much promise. Boy was I wrong. I spent a year in electronic school and became one of the best radar repairmen on the west coast.  When I went to college I found out how dumb people really were , I did well at both undergraduate level and at graduate school. 

I do think back to my high school days and still have some pride when I see the band or the sports teams do well. I did send my own children to Salem after a few years at United. I felt that they needed to see what a tough world they were going to have to face. Maybe ,in a way, the experience of surviving at that school did me some good.

Still,l I do not remember my years there though with fondness and never have attended a reunion. I have no plans to do so in the future.