Just Down the Street (Prompt #2)

By Grace Han Cunningham

NCSSM was in the local newspapers in Durham quite a bit - there was a lot of excitement and skepticism about if/how it would work out.

I was a practically a 'lifer' at Durham Academy (DA) - started there in 3rd Grade and was the only Asian student in my grade. My two younger brothers were lifers - both started in 1st Grade. For some time, we were one of maybe 2-3 Asian families at DA and I was the only Asian female student in my grade and several grades around me. DA was mostly white and affluent and very Southern. My best friends were the other smart girls who didn't fit in with the Southern, White, cheerleader, horse-back riding, lax playing, churchy kids: one of two Jewish girls (yaaaassss, Sarah Krigman, also Class of 1982 was my grade school bestie - some of my favorite memories are of the many sleepovers we had at her and my houses) and another smart but socially awkward girl named Karen Mitchell. I have no idea if Karen Mitchell applied but Sarah and I were ready to move onto a school that was more challenging and potentially more inviting to smart kids.

Smart kids rarely fit in at private school. Sarah and I would trade being named Student of the Year for several years and classes at DA, while academically excellent and looking back, really well executed - DA had nice labs, computers, arts, etc.; they simply weren't challenging. Also with private schools, you are in a class of maybe 30-50 kids a grade and they are the same students every year, so by middle school, everyone knew what everyone's talents and abilities were. 

I was never part of the 'in-crowd' at school but teachers appreciated my academic excellence. I'm sure I was quite socially awkward and nerdy. I did a lot of afterschool clubs like Book Club, Math Club (Mrs. Williams was the best!) and Yearbook <eye roll>. I wish my parents weren't so focused solely on academic achievement as it left me socially inept but that's all they knew too. My adult daughter appreciates that I was not a Tiger Mom and instead focused on her being well rounded, not just academically excellent. She, like myself, however remains totally lacking in school team sports abilities and I only got a Letter in track because I'm sure my coach, Dennis Cullen, didn't want me to be the only runner on the team who didn't Letter. 

I liked my teachers. I remember my science teacher, Bobbie Hardaker, was convinced the school would be a failure and was very dismissive about any conversations about NCSSM. I was happy to see many DA faculty and staff end up at NCSSM after all. 

I figured it wouldn't be hard living 10 minutes from my house - yes me and Bev Adams lived closest to the school. (Note: Story for another time - when I got in trouble for letting Gary Steele illegally park his car at our house so he could drive back and forth home on weekends, lol). Bev was in my development but we had never met since we attended different schools. We met for the first time when the Durham Morning Herald gathered us and John Armitage for a photo and interview in the summer of 1980. And I have never lived away from home so the idea was exciting! If I needed anything, Mom & Dad were 10 minutes away! Couldn't get any better - NCSSM was even closer than DA.

I had nothing to lose and lots to gain! So my dad nominated me as soon as the application period was open and the ball was rolling. I was excited to step through the process and have saved every scrap of paper, letter, SAT score used for the application process. It was with zero hesitation that I accepted the offer to join the inaugural class at NCSSM.