Waiting for My New Life to Begin (Prompt #2)

By Steve Gallup

Yes.  I was a little nerdy in middle school.  

I tried to hide it a little.  But it came to me so easily.  

I had no qualms about dissecting a frog.

I created a report on the unusual properties of arcs and tangents for my geometry teacher.  I don't think she even asked for it.

In Algebra 1, I understood quadratic equations right off the bat.  Everyone else seemed so confused.  Except for one other student.  She and I could do the quadratic equations in our heads, most of the time.  It just seemed... simple.

I always got good grades.  I was polite.  I raised my hand.  I usually knew the answers.

I tried not to be the teacher's pet.  To be known as the favorite could make you a pariah.

But when you know things, it can also make you useful.  Sometimes, when other students realized that I knew how to solve math problems, they asked me for help.  I tried to keep that sort of activity on the down-low.  I would help.  Of course... I would help them; but I did so quietly... unobtrusively; like a POW with a plan for escape... keeping the conversations hush-hush and secretive.

"So you add the numbers here, and you multiply the numbers there.  Shhh.  I'll explain it later."

I also took up soccer; and I played for junior varsity.  I tried not to be so nerdy.  

But I also played in the band.  I played the flute.

When I went to high school (which started with 10th grade, back then), I dropped the flute and joined the percussion.  Our percussion section created a cadence to play when the band was on the move, between songs.  I still remember that cadence today.  Dum dum dum. Dumbidum dumbidum dum.  Dum dum dum.  Dumbidum dumbidum dum....  

That seemed pretty cool.  I felt a little less like a nerd in marching band.  (Sidenote: I had never played the drums.  So when I switched instruments, I was put on cymbals; which meant that half the time I was holding the cymbals for one of the drummers to play.  The other half of the time I was counting measures and rests like my life depended on it; because if you clap the cymbals on the wrong beat, pretty much the whole band knows you blew it.)

But I digress.

In 10th grade, I think I took the following classes: Biology, Algebra 2, AP English, Latin, Typing, Computer Science, and Marching Band.

In AP English we learned about the different writing formats:  Narrative, descriptive, persuasive, and expository.  I learned a lot.  More than just big words; although my habit of flipping open Grandpa's Merriam Webster to random tabs, was still paying off.

In Latin we learned to conjugate verbs.  Amo, Amas, Amat... Amamus, Amatis, Amant.  And we learned Latin puns: Semper ubi sub ubi (Always where under where).   I think I took it because I had heard that it might be useful to learn Latin and Greek roots, for various branches of science.

I took typing, because it seemed like it could come in handy for the computer.  I had gotten a home computer when they first entered the market.  I got it for Christmas.  I don't know what brand it was.  Probably an Apple.  I learned Basic pretty quickly.  You could create pictures on the screen by coding where to put a letter, or letters, line by line.  On the computers at school, I created bigger and better pictures.  I guess I learned a little programming too.  

I remember that there was a primitive lunar module landing game, on the computer at high school.  You tried to slow the rate of descent just right, so that the module landed gently.  I think you had to tap on the arrow keys to do it.  If you didn't control the module just right, you either cratered badly, or your module flew back off into the void of space.  I didn't know it, but I was getting ready for a whole wave of arcade computer games that were about to usher in a golden age of coin-operated, joystick controlled, dopamine fueled activity at the mall.

Biology was my favorite class. My teacher was Mr. Braddy.  (That's not a typo.  He spelled his name Braddy, even though it was pronounced like Brady.)  He was a good teacher; patient and bright.

We learned how to create a dichotomous table to classify a bunch of mythical beasts, which was fun; but we also learned how to use a dichotomous table to identify a tree from it's twigs and other physical characteristics, even in winter.

We learned about Taxonomy and Binomial Nomenclature.  We learned about Kingdoms and Phyla.  We learned about Protozoa.  The Euglena was always my favorite.  Still is.  I used to have a small or medium yellow T-shirt (I was awkward and skinny back then) with a picture of the elegant Euglena screen-printed on the front.  It was very, very nerdy.  I had a talent for learning about weird creatures, and for memorizing odd facts.  (Sidenote: It really paid off in college when I took Invertebrate Zoology; the most difficult course of my major; the one that weeded out the A's from the B's.)

We learned about Botany; about xylem and phloem;  about plant reproduction.  We even went on field trips.  Once we went to a forested area in early Spring to see the emergence of the Spring ephemerals on the forest floor (before the leaves emerged in the canopy above).  I knew I was hooked when we uncovered the funky spotted brown flower of a sprig of wild ginger, lying hidden beneath the pine needles and leaves.

Mr. Braddy wrote my letter of recommendation, when I applied for NCSSM around that time, the early Spring of 1980.  He must have seen how much I loved Botany and Zoology, even though I was only one of a hundred of his students... or more.

I love everything about science.  I learned that the first time, back in middle school.  (And I learned it again... remembered the thrill... 30 years later, when my two girls were in middle school, and I volunteered to be a parent helper for NC Science Olympiad.)  So when I found out that there was a School of Science and Math opening in the Fall of 1980, I jumped at the opportunity.  It really seemed like a no-brainer.

Now, there were other reasons for me to apply.  Free room and board was a substantial incentive for me and my family.  My father had died in 1976, and my mother was living on social security payments for her two children, and a little spending money from a morning newspaper route.  I was getting up mornings at 4:30 AM to help on the paper route; and I was ready for that to be over.  Seriously ready!  Getting free food at a residential high school seemed like a way to reduce our burdens.

Basically, I felt like I was ready to get out of Dodge.  I was ready to start over.  And what could be better than starting over in a place, just a little way away from home, in a school full of like minded nerds.  It was a perfect opportunity.

My mother gave her blessing.  (She's the one who showed me the newspaper article in the first place!); and I got my letters of recommendation, and started the application process.  I was ready for my new life to begin.

NCSSM Invitation Acceptance (Prompt #2)

 By Gerry Sherman

[Writing Prompt #2:  Write a story about your personal reasons for applying for the School of Science and Math in February of 1980, and for accepting the invitation in May 1980 to enter the first class.  (Try not to focus on the application process.)  

Describe in action, dialogue, and/or details the reasons that you chose to apply for an unproven public residential STEM-focused high school rather than attending the high school in your own hometown.]

I returned to North Carolina in 1979 to spend the summer at my grandparents’ home in Holly Ridge, a small town 30 miles north of Wilmington and about 5 miles inland from Topsail Beach.  My intention had been to enjoy the summer and then return to Connecticut to complete high school.  In the past, I had spent many years in North Carolina, having attended several grades in both elementary and middle school.  As a result, I still had many friends in the area with whom I’d grown up and fell easily back into old friendships.  Later that summer, I was persuaded by some of my friends to attend a pre-season football camp hosted by Dixon High School.  I knew many of the coaches and players from my participation on previous sport teams, and once again found it easy to fall back into a very familiar and comfortable environment.   At the conclusion of camp, I felt very positive about my future and the opportunities that living in North Carolina could offer.  When the time came for a decision, I decided that North Carolina was the best place for me to be.

My sophomore year at Dixon High School was memorable for a variety of reasons and marked a time in which I felt like I was coming into my own.  I participated on the Football and Track teams and won all-conference honors in Track.  I learned to drive and received my full license upon turning age 16… I also had my license suspended after a few months, but that’s a story for another time.  Academically, I did well in all of my subjects, but I didn’t feel particularly challenged.  My favorite subject had always been math, and I excelled in Algebra I as one of only two sophomores in an otherwise junior/senior class.  The second sophomore was Keith Beasley, who would later join me at NCSSM as a member of the first graduating class and as my first roommate.  Algebra I was the highest math course offered at Dixon, and I was advised that more advanced courses could be available at Jacksonville High School or Coastal Carolina Community College, about 30 miles from my home. 

I had decided at a very young age that I wanted to become a pilot, and over the years this dream evolved into becoming a Navy pilot.  My grandfather was a retired Navy veteran and the most influential person in nurturing this idea.  I had decided to pursue the U.S. Naval Academy as the starting point for my education and career path, and I was focused on the achievements that would form the basis of my application; knowing that a higher-level math would be a necessary component.  In early 1980, my math teacher came to me with an opportunity for a new residential high school that was being created to provide advanced instruction in math and science.  This new school would address my math course availability issue and possibly strengthen my application for the U.S. Naval Academy; however, the program would be primarily academic with very limited sports and located several hours from home without the allowance for personal cars.  On this basis, I supported the idea to move forward with an application but was still uncertain about leaving my friends and family and the present environment in which I was thriving.

Upon being accepted, I spent a great deal of time weighing the decision on whether to leave a personally fulfilling life, or to pursue a path that offered great promise but with great uncertainty.  My grandmother provided the insight that would ultimately be the deciding factor, and words that I will never forget.  She stated that the decision was mine alone and she would support me regardless, but was confident that I would do well on whatever path I chose.  She asked me to consider the possibly regret I might have in declining the offer and reassured me that if I decided to go to NCSSM and found that I wanted to come home, she and my grandfather would come to get me immediately without question.  With that guidance, my decision became infinitely easier and would ultimately prove to be one of the best decisions I ever made.

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Why come to NCSSM? (Prompt #2)

By Kathleen Benzaquin

As a staff person my perspective may differ a bit from that first class of students but I daresay we shared similar reasons for doing so.  I was struck by the uniqueness of such a public school; the creative reasons for it were unlike any place I had seen or been to before. My M.O. has always been to find a situation that was the first of its kind or gave me the opportunity to start something where I saw a need. This school, only a dream still, was perfect. It involved creativity, risk and making things happen.  It would require students, faculty and staff to go outside their comfort zones, to make a change from known to unknown and to trust that this educational and emotional risk would pay off.  My role was to create the residential, work and community service programs as well as the student activities program all so similar to offerings on a college campus.  This was suited to my professional background and seemed to blend my skills so well.  I was excited for this opportunity but even more so I couldn't wait to meet the students, the "Pioneers" as we called them!

A visit to the guidance counselor's office (Prompt #2)

By Ami Shah

I did not know anything about the school and was never planning on applying. One day the guidance counselor called me and one other girl to the office. I was not sure what the two of us could possibly have done wrong. You never went to the office unless you did something wrong, like cheating or causing a fight or smoking weed on campus! 

She then told the two of us about the school and would we like to apply? I took home the paperwork and handed it to my parents for them to look through. There was absolutely no way that my parents were going to let their daughter go away to a boarding school and live in a school with boys and girls who were 15/16 years of age. Much to my surprise, my dad thought that education would be better than my rural high school and was all for me going, my mom needed more convincing. Thank god my dad convinced my mom to allow me to apply.

Writing Prompt #2: Why did you go to NCSSM?

Why did you decide to leave home and go to the NC School of Science and Math in Durham? (Alternatively; write a story about your life in the first half of 1980.)

Description:
Write a story about your personal reasons for applying for the School of Science and Math in February of 1980, and for accepting the invitation (in May 1980) to enter the first class. (Try not to focus on the application process. That may be the subject of a future prompt.)

Describe in action, dialogue, and/or details the reasons that you chose to apply for an unproven public residential "STEM"-focused high school rather than attending the high school in your own home town.