Elementary School Memories

In my younger years, my parents moved four times in a four year period. We moved to the house I call home in the middle of a record-setting snowstorm on February 3, 1982. For a little while in elementary school, I was known as the little girl with the smile, singing voice and Southern accent. One of the greatest blessings I discovered in elementary school was that the Good Lord had given me a talent for writing all different types of articles and stories.

During my late elementary school years, my music teacher Marianna Waslik did something that I will always remember her fondly for. Ms. Waslik encouraged my love of singing. I was very confused at first, because I had been asked not to sing during physical therapy. Singing poorly affected my muscle tone, and in my early elementary school days, I thought the nice people who helped me in physical therapy knew quite a lot about both baseball and musical pitches! What did I know?

On the school bus, there was a little boy named Brad who would often misbehave. Brad was banned from the bus quite often for using profane language. As a little girl, I never understood why, but the only way he would stay respectful and quiet was if I sang. Through this experience I learned how to sing on pitch at 7 AM! Is that a silver lining or what?

In elementary school, I participated as an athlete in Special Olympics. It was so much fun! When I was ten, I was in a twenty-five meter wheelchair race. I also participated in swimming, with the help of my friend and physical education teacher, Cindy. Ironically, I was also profiled in an informational video about Special Olympics. You can imagine how surprised I was to hear recently that the video is still used today!

When it comes down to it, the individual subjects I was taught in elementary school haven't contributed very much to my success as an adult. However, what has meant so much more to me were the real-life lessons that played such an important and special part in my becoming who I am today.