High School Blunders

My visiting teachers came last night to chat/give me a lesson...we ended up talking about my experiences in high school, a Catholic school. I'll admit I have an interesting schooling background. However, that's not really the point. In reading Cicada's blog this morning, I was reminded of the pure drama of that small Catholic school. So, I thought I might make a list of my best/worst memories before I manage to forget them all...

1. Water balloons in the park for my 15th birthday...and then water balloons in Blockbuster...and the old man flirting with us...ugh!

2. Running for student body president following the demise (due to alcohol in the girl's bathroom during a dance) of the actual student body president. Unfortunately being the school drunk gets you further in high school than you'd think!

3. Making my English teacher (Junior year) cry...I wanted to switch classes because I couldn't stand to sit in his class anymore. I was sick of being hit with the 7th graders' geometry blocks by Andy or Devin (they like to sort of skip the yellow octogons across several empty desks...inevitably hitting the back of someone's head). And I really couldn't handle Laura's constant hiccups or her comments every Monday about her weekend...guess she didn't get the chastity lesson in her youth. It got to the point that we rarely even had a lesson or discussion in class because the teacher couldn't control the mayhem. I quit doing my homework and ended up in a one-on-one during lunch with the teacher...in which I told him I hated his class and wanted to switch...he actually cried! Right there in the MPR (multi-purpose room...our theater/lunch room). The next day he tried his best to get everyone into a discussion about some American poet from the 18th century. He got VERY frustrated and wrote the "f" word in big, red letters on the board...just as the principal walked by the window to the classroom!


4. We drove down to Lassen with our favorite math teacher...I'm sure we drove him nuts while we sang songs in Thai. And then there was that photo shoot at Bumpass Hell Trail...I'm sure that doesn't need photographic evidence!

Running out of time...to be continued...

MJ in the Morning

This morning was just another PT morning...with Michael Jackson blasting...while several of the patients "get down"... definitely the highlight of the week...

Time Travel

Do you ever wish you could travel back in time and change a silly/stupid mistake? Like something you said that caused heartache or is currently coming back to haunt you?

It would seem today is the day all that drama from Sophomore year returns...ugh. I saw someone in the Provo Library today that I haven't seen in 3 years. I sort of just tried to look very invisible while standing in line to check some books out. Fortunately, he didn't notice. Unfortunately, he's back in Provo...as evidenced by his working in the library. Wow. I'm sure it won't cause much drama...but just knowing he's there makes me want to take Steve with me every time! I'm not sure why...we never dated or anything, it just feels awkward. I suppose it has a little to do with the fact that both he and his then-roommate decided one evening to confess their feelings for me...one right after the other! There's a lot that happened that Fall semester I'd love to see erased. One good thing...it did make me laugh to remember that his roommates named a plant after him. :)

In other news...I'm not the only one from Sophomore year experiencing a little anxiety over things from that fateful semester.

USH Experiences

Some of you have already heard the funny little stories from my Friday mornings...but I thought I'd share the most recent comments. I volunteer every Friday morning at 7:45am...which may have a little to do with why these comments are so funny when they occur and not as funny when I finally get around to sharing them with Steve. Generally speaking I work with a couple patients and then go up to campus.

Comment #1: I'd like to kiss you, but I think that might be inappropriate. (an adult male)

I politely agreed that I thought it would be inappropriate and proceeded to leave for campus. (Steve thinks this is the funniest yet.)

Comment #2: I'd like to tell you what I believe. I read the Book of Mormon and nothing else.

He then spent about 20 minutes giving me the first discussion and finished with his testimony. I told him I believed the same things and that was it. Apparently he sometimes thinks he is the Holy Ghost...poor man! He's very quiet, except for that day he decided to teach me something.

Comment #3: (a couple days ago) "Jimmy" has a crush on you! (name changed...)

One of the boys tattled on the youngest of the bunch...while it's amusing to have a secret admirer...an 11 or 12 year old boy is a bit strange. He asks me every week if I'm married, and he knows the answer. :)

Comment #4: So, you just volunteer here? That's nice of you. You're cute.

I suppose this would have been completely benign...but the Dr. had just told this man that if he continued to work out and complete his required PT every week all the girls would go after him.

So, my point is...working with patients at USH is not that different from being in middle school or high school...everyone says what they want and no one cares too much about the consequences...actually, it may be more like BYU after your Freshman year.

If there's one thing I've learned from my years at BYU, my abnormal psych class, or my time working with patients at USH...it's that everyone is basically the same.

Good reading: Myths About Mental Illness, Elder Alexander B. Morrison (Ensign, October 2005)