52 Weeks of Sharing Memories - 10th and 11th Grades

This post is part of the 52 Weeks of Writing our Memories by Lorine McGinnis Schulze at Olive Tree Genealogy who has challenged us to write our memories for our future generations.

Tenth grade was my first year of high school in 1969. The Valdosta High School building on Williams Street was built in 1922, and my parents went to high school here, too! I remember the wood stairs were worn from decades of students trampling them. I took Latin, Spanish, home economics, bookeeping, typing (even though I already knew how to type), and the other usual courses. I don't remember having a favorite. The Wildcats are the football team, the band is called the Marchin' Cats (my dad was one), and the colors are black and gold. I loved going to the games but not to watch football. I was watching the boys and I liked to watch the band perform!

A 1920s post card of Valdosta High School where I attended 10th through 12th grades.
The building burned down after a football game in 1977 (the football stadium is adjacent).

As I've written before, I didn't like school very much, and I couldn't wait for the day to be done. I was a fish out of water. Very shy. An introvert. As usual, I hated the school lunches. I'd save my lunch money and buy chocolate peanut clusters candy at the Sears candy counter in Brookwood Shopping Center over on Patterson Street behind the school. I'd try to eat it all before my mom picked me up. She had to go to two other schools to pick up my siblings before she came to get me, so the car was always full of kids and noise, and I didn't want to share my candy or get in trouble for not eating lunch! I think she knew.

Not sure when this was taken but probably late 60s. I might have still been in junior high. 
The stuffed dog on my bed was a radio!

A friend of mine and I were sent home from school one day for our dresses being too short. We'd been cruising the halls looking at the 12th grade boys sitting in their classrooms when one of the teachers (I think it was Mr. Copeland) came out in the hall to see what we were doing. We were promptly sent to the principal's office who told us to go home and change. That didn't stop me from wearing short dresses. I used to hide in my closet and hem up my dresses and skirts.

I think it was 10th grade when I went to New York City on Easter weekend with my dad and oldest brother. We rode the train which I loved, and we stayed at the Algonquin Hotel in New York. What a beautiful hotel! We went to several plays, and especially went to see the play 1776 that my dad's friend Emery Bass was in. I met actress Kim Hunter at brunch at Emery's apartment on Easter Sunday. She told me I should be a model! (I was too chicken to pursue something like that. I don't like being "on stage.") We got back to town the following Monday, and my mom made me go to school that day to finish out the day! I didn't like that at all!

In 11th grade, there were so many students that the school was divided into two sessions. I think I went in the morning during 11th grade. I'm not sure. I know in 12th grade, I went in the afternoon, which I hated because I didn't get out until 4:00 p.m. I don't remember much in particular about 11th grade and what I do remember blends in with all of my high school memories. I do remember feeling the increasing teenage unhappiness and rebellion and the longing for independence.

Catherine