I was missing from Hive for most of 2024. Business has been the priority, but to be honest I miss Hive. There are things I get from this platform (mostly the diversity of people) that I don't get anywhere else.
So my intention for 2025 is to be on here a little more. Even if it's only once a week!
At the suggestion of my partner @new.things I'm going to answer the prompt by @ericvancewalton about my high school years. Brad has been answering these for a while and so I was familiar with the prompts but didn't have the bandwidth to get back on Hive.
If you haven't heard of Memoir Monday and you'd like to start answering some or all of these weekly prompts, you can check out all the details here.
And now, without further ado, my answers!
Reflections on My Senior Years in High School
Did you know your current love in high school?
I did not! He is 15 years older than me so even if I had known him then I wouldn't have seen a potential lover. I would have seen a man with a newborn baby who only many years later has become my (adult) step son.
What type of car did you drive?
At first, it was my parent's van, some kind of Toyota something-or-other. As the eldest of three, mum encouraged me to get my driver's licence as soon as I could so that I could help with some of the errands. It was good in hindsight as it gave me a lot of freedom I didn't feel like I had until then.
What kind of work did you do?
I had two jobs while in high school: I ironed the clothes of a very big family who lived up the mountain near us. I also used to drive some weekends down the hill and work in food service instead a tourist park zoo thing.
Where did you live?
About an hour or so north of Sydney, in New South Wales, Australia.
Were you popular?
Hell no! I was teased a lot. I mostly hid out with the other clever kids who weren't cool either but at least mostly accepted me as I was.
{Hannah and me. She was one of my rare friends who really liked me. Actually, come to think of it, Sally really liked me too. And so did Sylvia, who I am still in contact with today.}
Were you in a band or choir?
If I recall, I was both in the school choir and regularly signed up for the school musicals. I couldn't sing that well but I loved singing so singing in a crowd meant I wasn't self conscious and didn't worried about being criticised for my singing because no-one could hear me specifically.
What did you do after your graduation ceremony?
In Australia, we don't really do graduation ceremonies for high school. At least, we didn't in the 1990's.
Ever get suspended?
Ah, no. Not a chance. I was far too much of a "good girl". I may have got detention once or twice, but even that was a stretch - I was too attached to being perceived as "good".
If you could go back, what experience would you relive?
Ah, none of it? I struggle to think of anything that would make me voluntarily go back. Although, I did enjoy dancing in the school discos. Until someone would tease me that is. Same goes for the singing: good until not. Though I did love some of the learning aspects. If I could hand pick the teachers, the subjects and the kinder kids I would happily spend more time in schooling environments.
Did you ever skip school?
Once. On the very last day of year seven. (I know, not my senior years but it's the only time this "good girl" skipped school - without a parent's note for being sick that is). Two of my not-so-good-girl-obsessed friends convinced me to go the beach with them. We ended up missing our bus, getting ridiculously sunburnt and I got grounded for the entire summer holidays. Needless to say, I never skipped school again!
Did you attend football games?
I don't think our school had football games or any kind of public sporting game that others would watch or attend. It's not a normal thing for most school's in Australia I don't think. Or at least, not in my family who really were not at all sporty...
What was your favourite subject?
How do I choose? I loved maths (because I found it super easy). I loved english (when I had great teachers). I loved biology (fab teacher helped!). I LOVED my language classes (probably because I found languages so easy and appealed to the part of me that loves to travel).
Do you still have your yearbook(s)?
Yeah, but I don't really like them. I really should throw them out/let them go...
{First (very grainy!) photo is of my in year 11, aged 17. I looked happier/more relaxed in the second photo which would have been in year 12, aged 18.}
Did you follow your intended career path?
I had no clue what I wanted to be. And what I do now basically didn't exist 25 years ago, so no. I did think I was going to do something related to the university degree I picked, but I did a related role for about 4 months and then quit to explore/travel/do something more exciting.
Do you still have your high school ring?
I didn't know high school rings were a thing! Never heard of this before.
Who was your favourite teacher?
Hmmm, I'm not sure I have just one. I liked several. What they all had in common was they were highly competent teachers in their subject area with a high degree of emotional intelligence and patience that made them kinder than the ones I disliked.
What was your hairstyle?
A long straight pony tail for much of high school. I think I got braver as I got older and slowly cut it shorter (like to my lower shoulders instead of lower back) but I didn't realise until I was an adult how much better I look with shorter hair as it's curly! This suits my face shape much better.
What were your favourite shoes?
We had a school uniform, so I don't recall haven't any shoes I liked. They were just the shoes we had to wear.
What was your favourite food?
Hmmm, probably the thick milky milo (chocolate drink) I would make and guzzle the moment I got home each day.
Who was your favourite singer?
Ah, Celine Dion or Whitney Houston... maybe?! I think I'm less about the singer and more about the songs.
What cologne did you wear?
Cologne (or "perfume" as would be the case for me as a female) was not something I wore as a teenager and rarely have used as an adult. I don't like smelling like something that's not me. I'd prefer to just be clean and be me.
How old were you when you graduated?
18 and a half.
{Mum or Dad must have been in the audience taking a photo! On a real camera! That had film in it! Haha.}
Did you have any nicknames?
I used to get called "Cas" because these are my initials but I don't think I really liked it and definitely dumped it by my mid-twenties. I liked the nickname my family used (and still use) for me but that one's not for sharing. I like keeping it in the family.
What high school did you attend?
I don't actually want to share that level of detail here on the blockchain. Let's just say it was one of the Central Coast.
What year did you graduate?
1999
What’s changed the most about the world since you graduated?
The speed, access and efficacy of technology. This has changed, or small or large ways, almost every single aspect of my life. Some of these changes have been wonderful (like connecting with friends and family on the other side of the world instantly) and others have been challenging (getting criticised by people I've never met on the other side of the world!)
How have you changed since high school?
I have changed immensely. I don't rely on my intellect as my source for a fragile self esteem. I am still clever but I now recognise that it's far more important to be kind. I have travelled a lot and this has made me more open minded and realise that the more I know the more I realise the less I know (or whatever that quote is).
What hasn't changed since high school is that I still have an endless thirst to learn and I don't think that's going to go away anytime soon.
If you could time-travel and tell your teenage self something what would it be?
"I promise you, you are not broken.
Yes, you're different but you're enough. Be yourself.
Ignore people who don't like you, just try to avoid them and give them as little of your attention as possible. Their opinion of you does not matter even one tiny bit compared to what you think of yourself.
So start finding things about yourself you like and form your opinion of yourself around that. And while you're at it, start finding things you like about other people and form your opinion of them based on those things.
This will make you kinder and more likeable and you'll probably have more friends than you know what to do with."
Thanks for reading! Feel free to comment, reblog and/or participant in this Memoir Monday prompt if you like!
I absolutely love this and will do them myself now!!! Gah you are beautiful now as you were then. Your advice I could absolutely give to myself. Ah, Australia in the 90s hey. Not a lot different to Australia in the 80s.
Oh my gosh, you are so kind. I really did not think of myself as beautiful at that age at all. (Nor really now, but thank you 😊) All I can say about schooling in the 80's and 90's is: thank god we didn't have the internet!!!! I think it would have been immeasurably harder to navigate social interactions with the social platforms we have now.
!LUV your extra questions and answers
Thanks hun! !LUV you :)
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Oh what great questions, I am tempted to answer them myself.
I was quite shy as well as a teenager. I love the wonderful advice you have for your younger self.
I really enjoyed reading this and learning a little bit more about you @consciouscat xxx
Thank You, Kind One. xxx
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Wow! What a way to start off 2025!
A Sleeping Bee no more! Well done!
Thank you! !HUG
'Fortune favors the bold' - Virgil | Brave heart 💪