Oh, High School, in my memory, you are everything that is wonderful and great with the world. A time of idyllic optimism. And so many fun things, every day. It was its own little microcosm of drama and feelings and happenings. And I feel like so much of that time forms a person into the later human they become.
So today, I bring you, “25 things I will forever miss about high school” because graduation season has me all sorts of nostalgic. And to the WCHS class of 2000…
“If I never would have met you, I never would have liked you. If I never would have liked you, I never could have loved you. If I never would have loved you, I never could have missed you. But I did. I do. And I will.”
25 Things I will Forever Miss About High School…
1. Cruising on a Friday night. I am now far too conscious of the price of gas to waste it.
2. Wearing folded over boxers in public. And thinking that was perfectly acceptable. Generally with a large oversized tee.
3. Having classmates that became a pseudo-family when you see them every day for 13 years.
4. Using a hall pass to jack around and feeling like you were getting away with something. As an employee I didn’t even want to send a personal email without asking permission.
5. Being able to lay in the nurses’ office on the few occasions when you “just don’t wanna”. There are lots of days in motherhood that I wish there was a Nurses’ Office somewhere I could retreat to for just 5 minutes.
6. Study. Hall. There was no studying happening. It was like free time.
7. Passing notes in class. Now, how do you doodle your boyfriend’s name on everything? On your phone or what?
8. Being part of sports teams and groups throughout the year. And feeling such a part of something because of that.
9. Driving a car {my red dodge neon} that my parents both insured and paid for. How did I not get how amazing that was?
10. Bag phones. There when you needed them but not on you all the time.
11. 1-800-97-Jenny on the downtown pay phone. Because it was free.
12. Getting paid to get tan and eat gummi peaches (my fave candy to this day) as a Lifeguard. Best. Job. Ever.
13. That feeling when the guy you crushed on asked you to dance to Keeper of the Stars or Truly Madly Deeply. And you didn’t make eye contact the whole time but it was still the best night ever.
14. Taking classes like Ag and Shop and PE because I had to. And knowing I never would have otherwise. And how much I would have missed because of it.
15. Pep rallies. Because at the time they seemed so stressful and scary and I know my current self would absolutely LOVE to be on the floor cheering. Even if it would mean peeing my bloomers.
16. Feeling like I had the whole rest of my life in front of me. And that the sky was the limit.
17. Being taught, daily, by teachers who loved to teach. And who inspired creativity.
18. Getting to perform. Play. Volunteer. And laugh. All in one day. Singing, playing instruments, playing on the court. It didn’t matter. It was all the best.
19. Doritos and Mountain Dew for breakfast. Because metabolism and who cares, right?
20. The magic of summer break.
21. Prom. Homecoming. Spirit week. Winter Ball. Any excuse to get completely dressed up or totally dance my face off.
22. Calling collect. Only to hang up once you said, “I’m ready” as your name.
23. Having a magic fridge and pantry that were always full of food. And magic meals that just appeared on the table every night {thanks, mom and dad}
24. The smell and dampness of Xerox’d papers.
25. When the assignment of the week was to bring a food in — for German, or geography, or home ec.
There were lots of great things about high school, right?
