Heartspots: Meadowdale

Schools are officially back in business. Fall is here and as my tiny island is getting inundated with school kids and their parents, I figured I'd write a special little Heartspots entry. I've had the chance to see many places that have left an impression on me (hence, Heartspots) however, I think it's also important to look a little closer to home. 

Before we become great travelers, many of our first adventures are found in the halls of our schools, on the playground or in the ever popular gossip breeding ground, the locker room. For most of my childhood education, I was at one or another Meadowdale school. (#publicschoolproud) now, I don't know if I had the best education, but I feel like I turned out pretty well. I feel like my friends turned out pretty well. I'm not in jail, I can pay my bills and am slightly addicted to technology like every other successful member of society. So Meadowdale couldn't have been that bad (feel free, fellow Meadowdale survivors...err, Grads to disagree). 

 

Of course, like all youth going through the throws of adolescents (dear god) I had my ups and downs. I won't get into the sordid details (that's what my therapist is for) but I made it out. 

And to a certain degree, I have to thank my Meadowdale family for that. 

Let me take you back to the era of Little Michelle. I still remember my first day at Meadowdale Elementary. I was starting 2nd grade in the middle of the year because we had moved. It was square dancing week in gym. I danced with a girl I didn't know because neither of us wanted to 

dance with the single boy left....Friend S and I ended up being inseparable throughout high school. 

 

Funny how that happens. 

In 5th grade, apparently everyone becomes weird....and little Michelle was no exception. We invented a game where all of us were from different planets. The boys had one planet and the girls had another. (We clearly were on to something....Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus didn't come out till years later. Folks, we should probably get royalties). Glartard (the boys) and Zartard (the girls) ruled for almost the entire year. 

We were just on the brink of losing that childhood innocence, before the need to be cool set in. 

As we all know, once middle school hits, everything is out of wack. There are new students to get to know (even from rival Beverely Elementary). New hormones to figure out (oh the smells). New feelings and fears and interests. 

 

As much as I hated middle school (with a passion) I know that those two years could have been worse.  I could have been a band geek. 

 

No, no wait I was. 

 

And proud of it. 

 

High School was a whole different ball game. I assumed it was going to be exactly like it was for the kids on Saved by the Bell (who didn't think that?) 

 

It was not like that. There was no Max for us to hang out in. (We really wanted a Max). There was no caffeine pill overdoses. There was no Beach Hotel we could all work at during our summers. 

 

There were, however, the first crushes. The first fancy dances. The first kisses and the first...well, you know. 

 

Just kidding Mom. 

I was still a band geek (still proud) who found my place among the arts. I was shy, not incredibly outgoing and often times felt like I had the world on my shoulders. I don't know what I would have done without the music department. It breaks my heart to know that so many kids these days are missing out on the opportunity to participate in the arts. I hate that arts education always seems to get cut first. 

Yes, we went to band camp. 

 

High School wasn't always fun. There was a lot that I hated about it and though I'm thankful that I didn't peak at Meadodale, I'm grateful (at least now) for the experience I did have. 

We can't all be Zach and Kellys. 

 

And by George, thank god there was no Social Media during my time at Meadowdale. 

 

Thank god.