As with most things at
this point in my life I'm somewhat conflicted regarding my allegiance
to the school I graduated from Borah high school. Conflicted, I say
because as the dedicated reader of this blog is well aware I was born
and bred to go to Boise high school the crosstown rival. I cannot
state how committed I was to Boise High. Five of my siblings older
than me graduated from Boise High, all the kids that I went to junior
high school with pretty much fed into Boise high as well. In grade
school (though I didn't really think it through half of the student
body went to Boise high and the other half went to Borah). It took me
forever to figure that last bit out. But because I went and broke my
neck I was condemned/as well as blessed To have attended Borah high
school. To make matters worse because of the accident and the time I
spent in the hospital then and rehabilitation I lost a year. I should
have graduated with the class of 1969 alas that did not happen but I
was able to sneak out with the class of 1970.
Interesting, this week I
was contacted by an old friend of mine from junior high Biz Peterson.
I think I've talked about this project I'm doing right now of
scanning all my photos onto my hard drive which is allowed me to
ponder all the kids to put together a photo album for me during that
time. When I left ninth-grade that spring I fully anticipated hooking
up with all these people the following fall at Boise high well , that
did not happen. I lost contact with my friends for the next 20/30
years. It was so cool Biz said I should come to the 69 graduation.
That really made you feel accepted and I needed that. I was surprised
how good that maybe feel.
I was totally welcomed by
the kids in my class at Borah when I started. Borah high was built in
the late 50s or early 60s and was modern built on one level whereas
Boise high built around 1910 was built on the old University campus
concept with multiple buildings and multilevel buildings long before
elevators were considered for school or university settings. Boise
school district made the decision of what high school I had to
attend. Once I got over my silly pride of not being a Boise Brave I
fit in as well as I could, and a wheelchair in a class of 1200
students. My parents, I believe are just glad that I finished high
school at all. I did not realize I had a choice. The other two
friends of mine that I went to rehabilitation with did not graduate
high school (well Gino eventually got his GED and I think graduated
from college) but if you are a spinal cord injured adolescent in
those days graduation wasn't big on your list I guess. My mom and dad
didn't let me have a choice I was going to school and I was going to
graduate and then I was going to college.
Wish I could say it was
easy doing this high school thing. I wish I'd done better I wish I
had had better skills academically and supports. It's hard going to a
school you are raised to hate as well as being miles from your home.
But somehow I got through. Hope I didn't get a sympathy diploma they
really wouldn't surprise me that I got it just the same and that got
me into college and university. I'm glad someone, my mother no doubt,
had the wherewithal to grab a picture before graduation. This was
taken in the yard of our farm. Notice, there's a great shot of table
rock over my shoulder. That really was a great night and I did feel
special for a little bit…
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