The Good Ole Days

We all remember our first love in elementary school! WHO WAS YOUR FIRST LOVE? Mine was John M., 3rd grade, when he passed me a note under the study table, which stated oh so eloquently, “I love YOU!”

Later, in 7th grade, we girls viewed boys as having cooties and didn’t give a care about them (except for V.J.), for they were the enemy and rightly to be avoided, for they would pull the girls’ hair, knock their books down, slam unprotected lockers, and then laugh loudly as they ran wildly down the hall, pushing, shoving, and pretending to fight each other!

In the 9th grade, at CHS, there were new opportunities: chances to join a pep club, make new friends, start to date in a group. Varied circumstances created young gentlemen, smiling shyly, opening doors for us, offering to carry our books, complimenting our hair, asking us on dates, creating a whole new world for us!

Three years later, as oncoming graduates, we were confronted with the excitement of going to our own Senior Prom. Some of us did not have steadies, so we were unable to attend.

A very few girls were ‘ahead of their time,’ and they banded together and attended THE PROM (shockingly) without a date. We heard later they had a great time and felt validated even though they had attended without a date.

They were proud of their daring actions, and as they talked and shared later, vowed to never submit to being valued as “…just a woman, a housewife or a co-worker,” but to actually make a name for themselves in this vast world.

A strong, unwavering statement was made on that day: “You don’t have to have a date to rate!” That action resonated then and still rings true today, as women and men challenge old barriers, totally succeed, and represent their best selves in an ever-changing and always challenging world.

Thanks for your enlightening, encouraging, and restorative history, beloved CHS!