How did you feel upon leaving school?

R

Rose65

Well-known Member
Location
United Kingdom
Leaving primary school aged 11 was the most terrible day for me, somehow I knew that innocent carefree childhood was over. I was proved right.

Leaving secondary school at 16 was, in contrast, like being released from prison. I felt elation, breathing the air of freedom. I was so excited at my whole life's path in front of me. No more study, chance to experience all that life had to offer and earn my own money.

How did you feel at these junctures of a young life?
 

I was excited to leave my New Jersey 8th grade public elementary school in 1966 because I had spent 8 years being hated, absolutely positively hated by all the teachers because my mom was elected to the board of education and was responsible for negotiating the teacher contracts. My dad was the elected mayor and had the final say. Teachers hated my parents - and me.

My town did not have a high school, so we were bused to the next city. I enjoyed every day - new teachers, new friends and playing football, basketball and baseball was an awesome experience. My longtime best friend and I met at football tryouts in 1968 and have been friends ever since. He's an honorary uncle to my kids and the most decent honest person I have ever known.

The only "problem" that I experienced in high school was over my sophomore science project - a trebuchet. It worked so well that the administration made a new rule that future projects could not launch projectiles. Killjoys!
 

I was relieved to graduate from my small town high school and move on to a two year diploma mill in a neighboring city where I studied accounting/bookkeeping.

Getting a job and striking out on my own was exciting but intimidating. I always lived in fear that I would lose my job and end up becoming homeless.

I envy people that have strong family ties and support networks but maybe my lack and fear ended up making me stronger and more self reliant. 🤔

Anyway, it all worked out! 😉🤭😂
 
Hard to remember but I think I was a little lost.
My father got me a stop gap job in a delicatessen whilst I was awaiting to start an apprenticeship at the Copper Mine.
I simply followed my father's directions and done what ever he told me was best.
In reality, I was ill equipped to deal with the realities of life "in the real world".
School was a misery and I was a very poor student academically.
Seems I learnt very little about what to do and how to survive off my own bat.
As such, I have stumbled through life, making many, many mistakes.
 
Last edited:
No more years of struggling to disguise the shaking of my hands. (My senior grade English teacher I think saw them, trouble is she thought by reading in front of the class would help me get over my "nervousness". It was hell. I wasn't nervous--I didn't know why my hands shook. And when in front of the class the stress of it also got my head shaking. At least the young man who had a crush on me and thought it was just nervousness tried to help me not feel bad about my 'nervous' shaking. I should have married him. :)
 
Lucky that my high school was made up of different cultures from throughout the Pacific.
Throw in the ones from military families and it was a fun, informative time.
(Enjoyed great food and learned ways to say 'not appropriate' phrases in different languages)

By the end, I knew I'd be joining the military as a personal choice.
 
I was ecstatic to leave primary school. I went to a Catholic School and they were big on corporal punishment. I was a nervous wreck there.
I went to a public middle and high school. It was there that I made a group of friends who remained close for most of my life. Graduating was tough because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and I was afraid that my wonderful friendships would end. They didn’t snd everything fell into place.
i enjoyed college but didn’t spend a lot of time socializing because I worked while going to school and had no time. I was happy to graduate and get on with my life.
 
I loved every bit of it. I wasn't a follower who did everything the other students did. No school dances, proms, games, year book.......Nothing. I just did my own thing with my 70s muscle car. I had a few GFS, and it wasn't everyones business or they went to other schools. I was that quiet guy everyone seen and didn't know anything about. I didn't even know the name of the school standard name or sports teams till decades when they sent me a free calendar. I joined the Army right after school and never looked back except for driving past it a few times.
 
Last edited:
After getting a degree and having no real job skills, I followed the advice of getting a clerical education to get my foot in the door. It worked and I found employment. Years later when the kids were in school, I ended up with a career basically in my background.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top