Monday, August 22, 2011

Do You Remember?

7th grade starts today

new school, new friends, new tennis shoes that he tried mightily to scuff up so they wouldn't look too new

"you wanna look like you care but not like you tried" he said

ahhh....

good luck little guy.

Tell me: Do you remember your first day of Junior High?

14 comments:

Tess said...

Man, I do...Redlands California, home of the Eagles. I was terrified in my corduroy ditto's and button down blouse with a ruffle that ran across the chest....

memories, memories...

Stephanie McGee said...

I don't remember the first day of my first junior high but I do remember bits and pieces of my first day of my second junior high. We moved in the middle of the school year to be in a different house that was a little more flat, more of the essentials on the same level as each other. (Long story.)

My first junior high was multi-level and each classroom was numbered accordingly (first floor starts with a 1, etc). Second school was one-level with numbered hallways. I got my schedule and room assignments before I knew it and was dying thinking I had to climb to the sixth floor of the school.

The classrooms were designed in blocks so you had to go through classrooms to get to other classrooms, but the numbers weren't really noticeable so I was late to several classes. Teachers put me on the spot for things that they assumed I'd been learning at my old junior high but hadn't so I looked like a complete idiot.

But there was a girl who sort of took me under her wing, especially when it came to lunchtime. It meant I didn't have to sit alone at lunch and I started to feel like I fit in a bit. Plus I had other girls from church who had taken me in and one of them I still consider a dear and cherished friend to this day. (Which is rare for me.)

MG Higgins said...

No junior high in our district; we went K-8 at the same school. So instead of feeling like a newbie, we were the "big" kids, second in line to the 8th-grade throne. I don't remember much of 7th grade, but it's my favorite age to write about.

Michelle said...

Boy, do I! The first day of junior high was terrifying for me. My best friend and I were supposed to ride our bikes there, but she overslept and her mom ended up driving her, so I had to go by myself. That set the tone for the whole day.

After knowing everyone in my sixth grade class, we all went to a junior high where kids had come from ten different elementary schools. I only knew a couple of people in each of my classes, and the school was so BIG!

I hope you guy has a much easier transition!

Tess said...

I'm loving these memories and feeling so nostalgic today. thanks for sharing this with me!!

Kelsey (Dominique) Ridge said...

That quote is genius.

Caroline Starr Rose said...

I'd come back from a summer in Spain and had a super-trendy outfit from a kids boutique there: yellow high waters with a yellow blazer and a hot pink shirt, all with numbers all over them.

One of my friends took one look at me and said, "I didn't know you dressed like that!" (still not sure what that means ;)

Martin Willoughby said...

We call it secondary school and I went to one where I knew no one. Fear? I had to wear brown underwear.

Bright blue blazer, white shirt and tie. Still makes me shiver after all these years.

Tess said...

oh, wow..these are fantastic memories and images. They make me cringe and laugh at the same time.

so...all went well - he survived and mostly talked about how he now gets to chew gum in class.

at least he has his priorities straight :/

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

Our kids here start junior high in sixth grade, which is slightly crazy. They are still little kids in sixth grade! But seventh grade ... wow, you have a man in your house now! :)

I hope he has a great year!

Amy

Martin Willoughby said...

Kids ALWAYS have their priorities right. Friends, fun, family and then work.

Tess said...

You're right Martin - ha!

AL: yes, a little, skinny, bright eyed start of a man. It's neat to see...

Cynthia Chapman Willis said...

I definitely remember heading off to 7th grade. To begin with, the new school was really, really cool with an olympic-size swimming pool and an ice skating rink. Seriously--and this was a public school. But it was also a huge school and very intimidating.

Lydia Kang said...

It's vague, but I think I remember. Actually, it was a relief being in a school with more kids and new blood to infuse the same old groups of kids from elementary school.