Almost Thursday Throwback
We weren't always this old you know...
Once upon a time all four of us were young(er) whippersnappers. So this month Bria decided we should throw it back and share some elementary, middle, and high school memories with you all.
Enjoy!
Who was your favorite teacher?
My favorite was my third grade teacher, Ms. Schuster, hands down! I remember her so vividly. Most days she wore dresses; everyday she wore heels of some sort. Unless it was a dress down day in which we’d see in her jeans and what I consider tennis shoes - very dainty kicks. The entire year she spoke to the little black girl inside. If I was to ever run into her again, I know she’d have the same energy. She continuously raised the bar for the girls in her class.
She was and still is inspiration.
Who was your least favorite teacher?
His name was Mr. Grant, fourth grade, if I recall correctly.
Backstory - I originally wrote with my left hand. Somewhere along the line of schooling I was taught to write with my right. By the time I got to fourth grade Mr. Grant complained about the inconsistency in my handwriting. It was always eligible, it just looked like three or more people wrote all of my assignments.
He was great, just not my favorite. Mr. Grant pushed all of his students to the potential he saw within us. Thinking back, there were other important things that were “wrong” within our classroom however it just always seemed like my handwriting was his favorite thing to nag about. Today, I freak out when I’m writing and it looks like three different people wrote in my journal. Lol. Thank you, Mr. Grant.
What was your favorite subject?
Science, without a doubt. The work in science class always came easy to me. I’d complete projects and assignments without thinking too much. It was in fact, second nature for me. Sometimes I regret not sticking with science and finding a career that best fit me.
Did you have any major crushes?
Nothing major at all.
What extracurricular activities were you involved in?
You know, a few days ago I was thinking of how I got to where I’m at career wise. I immediately thought of my role in FBLA during high school. Future Business Leaders of America was one of two activities I participated in. I joined a modeling agency in high school - Cyndee’s Models in the Isle. I learned SO much from Cyndee and all the girls that were around the same time I was. Applying make-up, cat walking, runway and print. It was a dream.
What was your senior prom theme?
I don’t even remember. Lol. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad but, whatever. Prom for me was nothing like prom is today. People didn’t have tigers and all that extra, mini wedding stuff - no shade. I do remember being stressed out about my dress, though. It was custom made, and came out decent. My shoes however, were perfect! I still have them! My mom tripped about the price - I think they were over $100. I thought nothing of it then but now I see why tripping was necessary. Ha.
I might have to pull them out of hiding and post them to my IG story.. we’ll see.
What is your favorite memory from high school?
Finding something I really like doing - modeling - has to be my favorite memory from high school. It helped me stand confident when I wasn’t modeling. It allowed me to see past island dreams. It also was my first reality check in knowing that everything isn’t for everyone. I’m 5’2’, while print modeling is cool my mind was set on runway. Runway being something I may never qualify for. Guess God has different plans for me and I’m cool with that.
+Shevon
Who was your favorite teacher?
My favorite teacher was definitely my first grade teacher, Mrs. Dupik.
She was so kind! Not to mention she had a cool name. I enjoyed the way she taught and classes were always interactive. Even at such a young age I never felt like I was being talked at, but talked to.
Who was your least favorite teacher?
Ugh, Mrs. Gift.
She was my third grade teacher.
That woman had a vendetta against me and I never knew why. She was evil; and would purposely try to embarrass me in class amongst other things. The abuse was so bad she ended up losing her job over it.
We had proof and everything!
I ended up running into her years later in a grocery store with my mother. She surprisingly remembered me and ran up to me to speak. I don't even think I cracked a smile.
What was your favorite subject?
English, hello! Haha, see fourblackgirls.com and before that it was brittanyandbria.com
Did you have any major crushes?
In high school for sure, but they were short lived.
What extracurricular activities were you involved in?
Elementary School - recess (my fav lol)
Middle School - volleyball and tennis
High School - honors society, tennis champion* (feel free to check up on the kid)
What was your senior prom theme?
I couldn't tell you to save my life. I can tell you however that my senior prom experience was horrible. My date almost killed us on the way there and then ditched me once we arrived.
If you ask him how the night was, he'd probably say it was a night to remember and he had the time of his life.
It's funny now and yes we're still friends, but nine years ago not so much.
What is your favorite memory from high school?
My favorite memory was graduating and I haven't been back since.
+Britt
Who was your favorite teacher?
This is such a difficult question because there were a few teachers who impacted my life. Being that I must choose ONE, it would be my high school literature teacher.
Who was your least favorite teacher?
I had a teacher in middle school who was incredibly unashamed about her prejudices and it made for a hellish experience my 8th grade year. I’ll leave it at that.
What was your favorite subject?
My least favorite subject was math. I had math tutors since 3rd grade and math never “clicked” for me until my last math class in college. That’s when I started to really enjoy math. Up until that point math had been my weakest subject which was strange because I absolutely loved reading and always scored high on standardized test in that area. I used ti hate being called on in class and having to solve problems on the board.
Did you have any major crushes?
I had several major crushes, Jarret, Lamont, Robbie, Chaz. In preschool I had a boyfriend named Matt. I used to make him give me his snacks because, I deserved. In kindergarten I switched to a gifted magnet school and during the first week of class I confessed to my crushes friend that I likes his friend. My crush told his friend to tell me that if I use glue stick to as lipstick (as a dare) then he would let me be his girlfriend. I know then…that many of these men would be worthless. I found out hours later after lunch that day, that he already was spoken for and had a girlfriend. There was a boy in 6th grade math class with green eyes and glasses that I liked, but then I learned he picked his nose… in 6th grade… So then that was over.
What extracurricular activities were you involved in?
I danced ballet from kindergarten to senior year in high school ad incorporated other styles in during that time. I played softball one year in middle school but it interfered too much with ballet. I took photography and acting classes.
I was an avid sewer for a while and I enjoyed scrapbooking. In high school I played volleyball, was class president and a feature editor for the school new paper.
What was your senior prom theme?
Good question, I barely remember. I do remember that I won “Most Likely to Become President”. And that is really all that matters…
What is your favorite memory from high school?
My favorite high school memory was sabotaging my teachers house with a group of friends. We got away with it and he never knew who covered his house in toilet papers and silly string.
+Rukiya
Who was your favorite teacher?
I’m a bit of a nerd so I had several favorite teachers and I was kind of a “teacher’s pet”. In elementary school one of my favorite teachers was my second grade teacher Ms. Craig, she was so sweet and she introduced me to the Harry Potter series when she bought me the first novel. But, my longest lasting relationships were with my freshman year high school English teacher Ms. Clay (my second mom) and my dance teacher and team coach Lori Goodman (my diva). These women helped to shape the woman that I’ve grown into with their love and encouragement. They were like godmothers to me. I knew that I could always turn to them for anything I needed. Earlier this year, I lost Lori Goodman due to health issues she’d been battling but I still have a relationship with her only daughter that I cherish.
Who was your least favorite teacher?
My least favorite teacher was my fourth grade teacher Ms. Fabre. She was just mean and miserable. But she paled in comparison to my high school Russian instructor, Mr. Sweigert. He was a bit of a prick who constantly insulted my intelligence and tried my patience. After I graduated, I came back to high school for a holiday assembly and I happened to bump into him in the hallway and he wanted to make small talk so I humored him until he asked “So what have you been up to? Did you go to college?” He knew damn well that I’d been accepted into all but one of the colleges that I’d applied to and that I was in college.
What was your favorite subject?
My favorite subject was English. I love to read and discuss literature. My favorite parts of English class were the socratic seminars where we’d discuss the themes, symbolism, characterization, and a host of other topics as they pertained to the novel we were reading as a class. My favorite socratic discussion covered feminism in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and Zora Neal Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God.
Did you have any major crushes?
Wow, we’re getting all up in my business now. Soo… I’ve had a crush on Pharrell Williams since I was about 12 years old. But in real life, in middle school I had a crush on these two boys who played football named Remy and Kendall. They were really nice but they weren’t the least bit interested in me. Those two were the only crushes I’d ever had on anyone who wasn’t a celebrity until college I think.
What extracurricular activities were you involved in?
In elementary school I was on the dance team and in the choir. In middle school I tried out for one play and I wasn’t selected so I didn’t try out for any more plays. I also attempted to join the step team in middle school but I wasn’t loud enough so I settled on the poetry club. In high school, I was a member of the dance team all four years, the choir sophomore year, and the modeling troupe sophomore through senior year. In my senior year of high school I was captain of the dance team and president of the modeling troupe.
What was your senior prom theme?
My senior prom theme was masquerade. I wore a dove gray Vera Wang gown and went to prom with my boyfriend. My senior prom was also where we broke up after he caught an attitude and walked out of the prom right after we’d taken our pictures. I thought that he’d gone to the bathroom but when it took him a little while to return I called to check on him and the conversation went a little something like this:
Me: Hey
Him: WHAT!
Me: Hey where’d you go?
Him: I left
Me: You left? What do you mean you left? With who? For what?
Him: *click*
So yes, I did in fact get dumped at my senior prom. No, I did not cry.
What is your favorite memory from high school?
My favorite high school memory was being on the dance team. I made some of my happiest memories in the dance room spending time with my team and our coach.
+Bria