monogodo

Mandy inspired this post.

My 20- year reunion is coming up next year. It sure doesn't feel like I've been out of HS for that long. At the same time, if feels like it's been longer.

I fit in with a bunch of different cliques in HS. I lettered all 4 years in Cross Country, so I fit in with the jocks. I played trombone in band, so I fit in with the music geeks. I had a cool dad who was a substitute teacher for a year, so the stoners liked me. I graduated 7th in my class, so I fit in with the nerds.

One would think that graduating 7th out of 107 would mean that I was a good student. Actually, I made good grades, there's a difference. A good student knows how to study. I didn't learn how until I'd been going to college for a few years (part time, off & on). In HS, I paid attention in class, did any required homework, and pretty much aced any test I was given. I pretty much coasted by with high B's/low A's, figuring that it wasn't worth my time to bust my ass. I ended up graduating with a 3.65 (on a 4.0 scale, no AP classes). One of the main things I learned in HS was that I test very well. After I took the PSAT my Junior year, the Guidance Counselor called me into his office to talk to me about my score. I don't recall what they were off the top of my head, but from the way he was behaving, they must have been good. I do recall him saying he'd never seen a score as high as mine, and that I had a good chance of qualifying for a National Merit Scholarship. At the time, I didn't care.

Well, he was right. Based on my PSAT scores, I became a Semi-Finalist. I then had to take the SAT and hope my scores were high enough to move me to Finalist.

Let me take a break here to tell you something about myself: I'm a procrastinator. Big time.

I knew for about 4 months that I had to take the SAT by a certain date for the score to count towards National Merit status. I waited until the last possible date to take the test. Two weeks before the test, I got a speeding ticket in my new-to-me car, which didn't have plates yet. Because the registration was still in process, the officer confiscated my Driver's License and issued me a receipt, so that I could still legally drive, to insure that I would either appear in court or pay the fine. I immediately sent in the payment (I was guilty), and hoped that I'd get my ID back in time for the test.

The test was on a Saturday morning. When I got home from school that Friday afternoon, I still had not received my ID from the State. I looked through the National Merit guidelines to see what my ID options were. One of the alternatives to a photo ID was a description of myself on school letterhead, signed by the principal of the school. That night there was a Boy's Basketball game at the HS. I waited outside the office for the Principal after the game, and explained what I needed from him. He kinda sighed, and we went into the office, where he pulled out a sheet of letterhead and a pen and told me to describe myself. I did, and he signed it. I thanked him profusely and headed home.

The next morning, my best friend, Eric, and I carpooled to the neighboring town where the test was being administered. We arrived plenty early, to make sure we were as comfortable as possible before the start of the test. When I presented my ID, they refused it, saying it wasn't valid. I explained that, according to SAT regulations, it was a valid ID, and suggested they look it up if they didn't believe me. They looked it up, then told me that they'd put me on Stand By, and that they'd seat me after they allowed all the other Stand By registrants in, if they had an open seat for me. I protested, stating that I had paid for a seat, and that I had a valid ID, according to SAT regulations. They just ignored me.

I was finally allowed entry, just before the test was to start. I literally had taken off my coat and sat down when the proctor announced "You may begin."

So there I was, upset that I had almost missed taking the test that would potentially qualify me for scholarships, with no opportunity to relax beforehand. I went into high gear, taking the test as quickly as possible.

Weeks later, my results finally arrived in the mail: 620 Verbal, 700 Math (1320 Combined for the mathematically challenged readers out there). When I saw Eric at school the next day, I learned that he, too, received a 1320, only his was 600 Verbal, 720 Math.

Later I learned that my score was good enough for me to advance to National Merit Finalist.

I ended up getting a scholarship to New College of the University of South Florida in Sarasota, FL. I became my HS's first ever National Merit Scholar. How I got accepted to New College is another story.