Elizabeth Straw:
CLASS OF 1969
Adams High SchoolClass of 1969
South bend, IN
Indiana University - EducationClass of 1973
Bloomington, IN
Pierre Moran Middle SchoolClass of 1965
Elkhart, IN
Monger Elementary SchoolClass of 1963
Elkhart, IN
Euclid Elementary SchoolClass of 1957
Hasbrouck heights, NJ
Elizabeth's Story
Life
I am now known as Liz to most people - Elizabeth is my Elementary and Jr. High name. I started being called Liz in High School and it stuck. After graduating IU I started off teaching school - in So. Georgia. Sorry folks but that part of the country was not for me I lived on the edge of the Okeefenokee Swamp. Think Burt Reynolds in "Gator" - I loved that movie, it was an exageration, but it held a lot of truth. No teaching jobs in Indiana - hard to believe at that time there was a glut of teachers on the market and now they are begging for teachers. Life sure throws a lot of curve balls. I Substituted for a couple of years but who can live on substitute pay? Did a number of really crummy jobs, got the Big C and then settle in to a job at the St. Joseph Tax Assessor's Office until I had enough money to begin Grad School. I got my M.S. in Historic Preservation and landed in Nashville working for the State Historic Preservation Office. I worked on the National Register of Historic Places program. I even walked through Elvis' living room in my stocking feet. LOL Not just anyone gets to walk on that sacred carpet. Life events strikes again. This time a major opereration tried to cause my untimely death. But since I am still here I won once more. Guess that means I have at least one more time to beat out death if it is three strikes and your are out. Anyway, after that event and a couple of years of trying to keep working I ended up on permenant disability. Those curve balls just keep coming, but I am still in the game. Guess you can tell I am still a major baseball fan if you remember me from elementary school. Cubs all the way. I am now trying to write and hopefully will see if I can sell a book. That daydreaming I used to do in school had to be good for something. Liz
School
Wow, would I really admit my biggest crush on this forum. Nah, you have to contact me if you want to know. It would be embarassing to tell or have the guy read it. My 7th grade English teacher inspired me the most. Mrs. Lousure was the one person who led me to believe I could write and tell a story. All though I tried over the years I kept putting it off. Now I am finishing my first book and have two more in the works. Her abiltiy to make me believe in myself at that age says a lot and I am going to make sure someone buys my book. I would love to see it sold on Amazon.
I have some great memories of school. But I have to say I have some really bad memories of school also. I was a victim of "Girl Bullies" If you have never seen anything on this and you have daughters - check it out, girls are far worse than boys when it comes to picking on girls. Through 7th and 8th grade I was tortured by a small group of girls as not being good enough. I was an outcast and I received the most horrid hate mail. I was pushed and shoved in the hallway all...Expand for more
because a couple of girls rounded up a group of friends to pick on me. Needless to say I suffered through depression during this time. I had no friends in Junior High and moving to a new High School in a new town did not come easy.
High School cliques are so stupid. I look back on that and really wonder where most of the people from those groups are now. No I have never been to a reunion, I have no reason to go. My best friend is dead, she died of cancer. The rest of you were to interested in yourselves. Do I sound bitter, well just how well do you remember me? Did you know what I liked, do you remember what I did in school, did you ever ask me to one of your parties? Nope, I was not a cool person, I was not in the right group. I did not grow up with you, I did not wear the right clothes, and I was shy. I had been burned badly in 7th and 8th grade, but then you didn't care you were to caught up with yourself. High School groups were just dorky. I was really surprised on my first day of IU when one of the most popular girls from HS admited she was there on probation. I mean I was there, an average student, but with full admition and in a special class that combinded writing and litereature. But Ms. Popularity was on probation. It was then I first realized High School was nothing but a group of kids trying to outdo each other by ousting others. Now you know why I have never been back.
I have a Master's degree and guess what I never was in a popular group. I didn't need one to prove what I could do. I realized that I was involved in all sorts of groups in school and most of those in the popular groups did nothing but hang out togher. Is that sad or what. I am sorry you missed knowing me then and now. I do not travel back to South Bend for many reasons. It is not a Happy Place.
I am glad I was able to grow up knowing I could be something without having to prove I had to be popular in high school. I am sorry I missed knowing some of you, but that I am afraid is your loss, you chose it because you did not think I would look right in your group. How shallow you were. I hope you are better people now. I know I am much better. If I see you, forgive me if I have forgotten who you are, I do not remember people well. Except those who were my good friends.
You missed my humor, my friendship and my companionship. I am sorry that we were not able to be friends because the rules of high school dictated that we were not to mix together. May God be with you.
College
Wright Quad - Rueter Hall - ZERO FLOOR
Who could forget the rooms we had? The tours we gave? The bathroom where the first Crest toothpaste commercial was filmed? The odd floorplans and the Chirstmas parties. I have incriminating pictures.
(I probably misspelled words, I still can't spell, even with spellcheck) But what the heck it makes life more fun.
Liz
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