I Wouldn’t Say High School Was My Glory Days, But It Was A Good Time

An informal interview about my way back when

In my teenage days of yore, I wore sunflower barrettes, thrift shop disco dresses, and shaved my head bald. I was excruciatingly shy and wanted to be noticed. My heart and head were craving the next level, the growing up. I witnessed, wrote, and explored town on foot. My last year of high school, I found a core group of friends. There were 8 of us. We were a bit different and supremely nerdy; I loved having a group to fall in with.

What is the year you graduated?

It’s complicated. I belong to two high school graduation groups because I bounced around a bit. My folks had me repeat kindergarten as they were going through a divorce and didn’t want to spring too much change on me. I did not like this one bit.

I think that’s why I felt so determined to graduate a year “early” or, in my mind, the year I should’ve been graduating all along.

In those days, one could take junior English over the summer of sophomore year and have enough credits to graduate the following year. That’s what I did.

In 1996, I walked across the stage with about 1,000 other kids at Lloyd Noble Sports arena. That was enough for me — I didn’t walk for either of my college degrees. Too much sitting around and waiting.

Did you carpool?

I think so? Pretty sure I had two friends who lived nearby, had cars and would give me rides. They definitely blasted The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, and Weezer. Music was the way to wake up.

I didn’t buy my first car until I was in college.

Walking and bus riding and getting rides with friends were my main modes of transportation. Mom let me borrow her car sometimes, too.

What kind of car did you drive?

The No-Car kind until I was, I think, a sophomore in college. That’s when I bought a used Chevy station wagon with the $900 I’d saved up from part-time jobs.

She was a spacious gas-guzzling beauty with about a 12-gallon capacity.

It’s Friday night football — were you there?

Hell no! I didn’t like football then, and I don’t like it now. I’ll eat all the snacks you make for your game, though.

Instead, you’d be likely to find me eating junk food and watching movies at one of my friend’s homes.

What kind of job did you have?

It started around middle school with babysitting for acquaintances. Then I got a job wrangling kids twice a week at church. I also worked watching kids at a Women’s Resource Center.

Were you a party animal?

Yah, no. Not until college. I skipped my creative movement class a couple of times during my last year of high school. It’s also the year I began sneaking cigarettes, but that was as wild as I got.

Were you considered a jock?

Very much, no.

Were you in a band?

Nerp, but I wondered what it’d be like to have an automatic “group” as a band or drama kid.

Were you a nerd?

I think so. English was my favorite class. I took all I could beyond standard English, including College Grammar, Creative Writing, and College Composition.

Did you get suspended?

No, but I did have one eventful trip to the principal’s office.

Can you sing the fight song?

Couldn’t then; can’t now.

What was your high school mascot?

In 1995/1996, my high school mascot was a tiger. Our 9th and 10th grades made up “mid-high.” The school at the time was called West; I have no idea if we had a mascot or what it was. Did I mention sports aren’t really my thing?

If you could go back and do it all again, would you?

Hard pass. It was fun overall and I’ve got fun memories. No need for a repeat.

Are you still in contact with people from high school?

A bit. Mainly on Facebook. I avoided being in contact for several years. It’s nice reconnecting now that 25+ years have passed. Most of us are more open and mature now.

Some are dead. That’s weird, but so it goes.

Do you know where your high school crush is?

I did for a while. I think he’s with his wife and kid in the northwest now. A handful of friends from this time don’t have much social media presence; he’s one of them. Here’s a micro-story about us.

What was your favorite subject?

English.

Do you still have your high school ring?

Nope. Didn’t buy a ring or a yearbook. Kinda wish I had the yearbook. Jewelry isn’t really my thing. No regrets about the ring.

When were your glory days, or are they still to come? Props to Paul Combs for tagging me on this prompt. Find Paul’s responses here:

Here’s a little boss for you.

Aimée Brown Gramblin is practically a superspy because that’s basically what writers are, right? She dabbles in nonfiction articles, emits poetry, and lives her life as a WIP memoirist. She sometimes dabbles in pop culture musings.

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