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USNewsLink/April 7, 2002 BY JUDI HANEY, Class of '63 I did not graduate from high school. I simply moved on, one semester shy of graduation, when I was 18 years old.When I was 12, I moved from Florida to Alabama. And upon entering the Alabama school system, I was kept back a grade. At 12, I was already a tall, mature, looking girl so being kept back with younger kids who looked a lot younger than me caused me undue stress and embarrassment, contributing to my pattern of self imposed social isolation. By the time I arrived at Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, AL, (a transfer from Birmingham's Ensley High School in my sophomore year) I was a lonely kid who relied on adults for companionship. In retrospect, I am amazed that I found the wherewithal to integrate into Woodlawn society as well as I did, because a few years prior my father had committed suicide and my mother had abandoned me to the care of an older sister. As a result, I was severely emotionally scarred, broken hearted, grieving, trusting no one and preferring my own company at a time when my 'normal' classmates were able to have fun, mix, mingle, and enjoy high school life. My sister was not able to give me any money, therefore, in order to pay for my school, medical, dental, and living expenses, I went to work for Krogers at the Eastwood Mall Shopping Center when I was 15 years old. During my senior year of high school I lived at the YWCA in downtown Birmingham and worked at Sears Roebuck after school everyday in order to support myself. As a result of the efforts of a concerned Woodlawn teacher who became familiar with my plight, I received a $50.00 per month stipend from the Crestwood Civic Club during my last semester of high school. Also, Mrs. Jane Wright, the girl’s glee club director at Woodlawn High School, took me into her home and cared for me during a two-week period of recuperation following extensive dental surgery. In the face of financial hardship and an absence of familial support, I pressed on, attempting to maintain a sense of youthful optimism while suffering prolonged, serious, depression. I joined the high school band and eventually became a majorette. I sang in the chorus. I won a few local beauty contests and was a runner up for senior beauty. I fell in love and was traumatized from the break up. And in the ensuring years, I have had highs, lows, and in betweens. In some ways I exceeded my expectations, and in other ways I copped out on my potential. And now a Woodlawn High School reunion is about to take place. And I am going to attend. Since I did not graduate, I did not believe that I would be allowed to attend a reunion. But the group that is planning this event has gone out of their way to make everyone feel welcome. I am overweight, no longer attractive, still depressed, still isolated, but I have decided to join with my former classmates one more time to celebrate the good parts of our mutual past. I owe it to myself to reclaim that part of my life, and in attending the reunion, I will help my fellow Woodlawn classmates reclaim an important part of their past as well. After all, we were all there together. I attribute the positive parts of my Woodlawn High School experience directly to my classmates. Together we made it positive for each other back in those precious days, and we will make it positive for one another again during the reunion. Woodlawn High School was a very, very, important life experience of mine. And I am extremely grateful that I am being allowed to go back home again, if only for a moment, possibly for the last time. |
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