Monday, January 05, 2009

Sing

I’ll like you all to take a walk down memory lane with me. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY. I went to an all girl Catholic high school, called St. Brendan’s for three years. Why three years do you ask? My beloved school closed its doors in my junior year because it ran out of money and tuition would have been too expensive. I had the option to graduate early if I went to summer school for English. Then I would I receive my diploma by mail. I didn’t want to get cheated out of the cap and gown thing and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to college at the time. So I decided to go to another high school for my senior year, but that is another blog post.

Back to St. Brendan’s. Those of you out in blogland who grew up in Brooklyn might have heard of Sing. It’s a student run musical production. In our school each year (freshman, sophomore, junior and senior) competed against each other.

The students wrote the script (usually based on an already existing play, movie or book) – the character names were changed to protect the innocent. Music was added (which were usually songs of the times with the words changed to fit the story) – as well dance numbers. Students designed the sets, made the costumes, played in the band, acted, directed, and sang. Sounds like fun, right?

Everyone in your year was required to participate. There was something for everyone to do. For the first two years, I just sang in the chorus. The chorus was the place they stuck you if you didn’t have talent for anything else.

I mentioned that my junior year was going to be my last. I wanted to go out with a bang and did things that were unexpected of me. You remember high school? Everyone fell into a category - there was the jock, the cheerleader, the rocker, the brain, etc. I somehow fell in the brain category. No one expected “brains” to do anything except study. We use to do things and would never get blamed for it, because no one suspected us – sweet. I auditioned for an acting part. Our theme was Star Wars and I played Darth Vader or better known as Bart Radar. That’s right, that’s how the “writers” changed the name. Anyway, it was lots of fun. Our class didn’t win that year – the seniors did, I think. Who can remember that far back? The point is I was brilliant and I got to do two fight scenes with plastic light sabers.

Anyone have any high school memories that were unique to their area?

© Nadine Zawacki 2009

22 comments:

Dawn said...

I moved to a small high school from a large one in my junior year - it was a great experience and I'm forever grateful that we moved that year. But I can't think of anything specific to that little town - I'll have to think about that. I do have some great stories, though, in general.

Christina said...

Great memory. I lived in the same town my whole life and went to the same schools all my friends did. We were all pretty close, but nothing unusual. Just lots of lifetime experiences.

Marla said...

No memories like that. I did belong to the drama club and had a few minor parts in a couple of plays. Nothing as exciting as Bart though!!

Brenda said...

We moved my freshman year across town, so I pretty much lost all the friends I had grown up with from kindergarten. I'm psychologically imbalanced because of it! Ya right!
I was in marching band and we were excited because we were getting new band uniforms. Our colors were green/gold. The uniforms ended up being a bright green. We thought we looked like green beans. Very disappointing!

KarenW said...

I loved being in drama in high school and college. I liked drama in college better. I auditioned for a traveling team and loved it.

Bart Radar sounds like an exciting role!

Demara said...

Good for you for acting in a school musical! Something unique to this area? Hmm...no not really, can't think of anything. thanks for the book suggestion. (: I'm not sure if I can get it yet. It's harder for me to get online things b/c that's Jeff's dept.

palmtreefanatic said...

great memory indeed! I never had done anything that exciting!
thanks for sharing!

Art said...

That's interesting. Most of my interesting High School stories need to be kept private to avoid incriminating anyone (especially me) :)

Jen(n) said...

That road sign is hilarious

Anonymous said...

What a cool experience.
I was so busy surviving my teenage years I barely remember high school. In university I was so into studying and then my future husband I really didn't get involved. I hope my children have more freedom to participate if they choose.

a woman who is said...

Oh I have some unique memories alright...but that was B.C. before I was a Christian. LOL!

Angie said...

I always looked forward to my senior year when the "best of" and "most likely to" awards were voted upon. As the end of my senior approached and I was voting for other people I began wondering what would my peers vote for ME? I so wanted "best hair" or "prettiest eyes". I knew I wasn't getting the most likely to succeed vote, so that was out. Much to my complete suprise I was voted "best personality". Now 22 years later I think it's a bit nice. I would have been overjoyed to get "best hair", but NOW I'd take personality over hair any day. Well, not literally, but you know what I mean ? !!!!

Shionge said...

This is so sweet to walk down memory lane...I know I was miserable for most part of the year because I was so fat LOL

Deb said...

LOL sounds like you had a fun high school.
I was the dramatic cheerleader who got by just by the skin off my teeth.

Bex said...

That is such a cool story! I don't think anything cool happened when / where I went to high school. I tried too hard to be something I wasn't - and so was everyone else. Pretty run of the mill.

Smooth Sailing said...

I cam from a small town 50 miles south of Salt Lake City. My grad class had about 150 kids. Our big memory was taking the state football championship. Ïunny how I hardly think about high school now and yet it seemed like the whole world back then. I wish I could tell kids today...there is more to life!

LOVE your sign...My husband was born in Long Island and likes to say he didn't cry when he "came out"...the just said "Yo WAAA"! How is hubby?

Cheri said...

Great memory. I didn't even dare to try out for a drama production...too chicken. I stuck to the band...playing my clarient.

elizabeth embracing life said...

What a wonderful memory to have and to go back and viist. I went back to Central Phili. where I spent the first seven years of my life and the catholic school, which seemed to be an empire was so small that what my child memory could remember. It's so great to visit places from our past.

Shawna said...

Hi, Nadine! That sounds like so much fun. I like to hear about Brooklyn because it is a world away from where I live.

Our Halloween carnival was held in the Vo-Ag (Vocational Agriculture) barn and was put on by the FHA (Future Homemakers of America.)

It was always so much fun. We had all the usual carnival games including bobbing for apples (gross!) and the dunk tank.

What was fun we one of us had a boyfriend/girlfriend was that there was a wedding booth, complete with fake rings, a marriage certificate, and we got to kiss on school property! *gasp!*

It was always a lot of fun, and we looked forward to it every year.

Shawna said...

Hi again, Nadine. I had to post about this as you jarred some memories loose for me. lol

j said...

Cool stroll down memory lane. I was unable to be a part of plays or dramas. Terrible fear of public speaking :(

Damselfly said...

Nadine, every once in a while you surprise me with something from your past! You're so funny!

And is that sign really for real? :)