For one of my classes, I was asked to write my autobiography in six words. Here's the one that I ended up reading to the class:
Couldn't read; became an English major.
But I wrote another that may have been more appropriate:
Proletarian, non-Marxist elitist with traditional streak.
But the one that may have been the best of all is:
Can't write, but I haven't left.
Showing posts with label Occasional Memoir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Occasional Memoir. Show all posts
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, December 13, 2007
The Education of James Banks
I am visiting the dentist today which bring back old memories. Primarily, how I decided to drop out of high school. I've told this story to so many people by now that I might as well publish it on my blog. Here's how it all happened:
When I was fifteen years old, my father recommended that I take my GED during the next year and start attending the Univ. of Idaho. At that time, I decided against it, but it did cement in my mind that more options than a high school diploma existed. (In retrospect, I cannot remember why I demurred, but it is a decision which I somewhat regret. I could be graduating next semester if I had done this.)
After deciding to continue high school, I lingered for about two years, never seriously considering dropping out until one day that I visited the dentist and, somewhat fatalistically, had my mouth cleaned by a very annoying, chatty nurse. She asked me what grade I was in and I told her that I was beginning my junior year. "How old are you?" she asks. Seventeen. She then said, with the air of a political analyst, "You must have been held back." I mumbled that my birthday was very recent. (Which was true, actually, although I should note that I was a few months old for my high school class.) By the time that the dentist came into the room, he asked me what I was planning on doing in the near future and I said, "I'm going to the University of Idaho next year."
In reality, when I started attending the University of Idaho, I had no idea that I would not end up returning to high school; I had almost no confidence at the time and at least considered the possibility that, within two months, I would be sitting in a high school class once again hoping to redeem myself for graduation. My parents were very supportive, as were most of my teachers (though I know one person who told me that s/he had the feeling that it was a big mistake.) But, looking back now, I think that dropping out of high school was the best thing that I could have done and, in some ways, it turned out to be a blessing while I was a freshman in college. It was useful for core science, for example, because it is in your junior year, not your senior, that you learn chemistry.
When I was fifteen years old, my father recommended that I take my GED during the next year and start attending the Univ. of Idaho. At that time, I decided against it, but it did cement in my mind that more options than a high school diploma existed. (In retrospect, I cannot remember why I demurred, but it is a decision which I somewhat regret. I could be graduating next semester if I had done this.)
After deciding to continue high school, I lingered for about two years, never seriously considering dropping out until one day that I visited the dentist and, somewhat fatalistically, had my mouth cleaned by a very annoying, chatty nurse. She asked me what grade I was in and I told her that I was beginning my junior year. "How old are you?" she asks. Seventeen. She then said, with the air of a political analyst, "You must have been held back." I mumbled that my birthday was very recent. (Which was true, actually, although I should note that I was a few months old for my high school class.) By the time that the dentist came into the room, he asked me what I was planning on doing in the near future and I said, "I'm going to the University of Idaho next year."
In reality, when I started attending the University of Idaho, I had no idea that I would not end up returning to high school; I had almost no confidence at the time and at least considered the possibility that, within two months, I would be sitting in a high school class once again hoping to redeem myself for graduation. My parents were very supportive, as were most of my teachers (though I know one person who told me that s/he had the feeling that it was a big mistake.) But, looking back now, I think that dropping out of high school was the best thing that I could have done and, in some ways, it turned out to be a blessing while I was a freshman in college. It was useful for core science, for example, because it is in your junior year, not your senior, that you learn chemistry.
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