Charles Carter:
CLASS OF 1985
Jones High SchoolClass of 1985
Houston, TX
Deer Park High SchoolClass of 1985
Deer park, TX
Deepwater Junior High SchoolClass of 1981
Pasadena, TX
Deer Park Elementary SchoolClass of 1978
Deer park, TX
Deepwater Elementary SchoolClass of 1978
Pasadena, TX
Charles's Story
My first nine years of public education(K-8) were in the Deer Park School District. I had many wonderful teachers there but I usually wasn't happy. I was a nerd and often picked on. I was picked on so badly that, in 7th grade, I found myself taking karate lessons. I ended 8th grade looking forward to entering high school.
Shortly before entering Deer Park High School I found out about the Vanguard program at Jesse H. Jones H.S. The Vanguard program was a gifted and talented program that stresses higher thinking skills. The Vanguard program was a "Magnet" School of HISD. The "Magnet" School program was designed to encourage white students to attend predominately black schools and vice-versa. That year, 1981, was the first time that students from out-of-district were allowed to attend.
So I didn't go to DPHS!
Things were different at Jones. The school was not nearly as nice as I had been used to. No carpet. Older equipment, lockers you had to provide the lock for. That was OK, but I had to adjust to some things. For instance, all of the desks at Deepwater J.H. had legs at the from end. I had to learn to pick my books off my desk BEFORE I stood up, or my desk would fall over!
On the other hand some things were better, like the bullying. Other students wouldn't put up with it! The school administration was no different. Fighting between students was also less of a problem. They would only break out when finals drew near.
And then there was something great!
First, our teachers expected more from us! I remember at Deepwater J.H. having to read during class. We didn't. (Unless we were studying a play) . We were held to a higher standard! Before, I would often be the lone person to raise my han...Expand for more
d at a question. In Vanguard, everyone did! In fact, being unusual was usual.
Living at the same home and going to school in Houston caused one problem, though. Some people thought I "dropped out". The idea always made me laugh!
Shortly after the beginning of my Senior Year at Jones-Vanguard, I was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor. The Pituitary gland controlls every hormone in the body. The doctors told me that it was slow growing and non-malignant. I knew why I never had any athletic ability. On September 6, 1984, after 8 hours of surgery, the tumor was removed. I went through radiation therapy (30 treatments). I walked back into high school a week to the day after that surgury. I had been expected to be in the hospital a month and out of school another two! BUT I INTENDED TO GRADUATE ON TIME!
I always felt the whole incident (which I will not recount here) was a miracle. My favorite teacher, Mrs. Marjorie Moore died about three weeks beforehand. I wasn't much for religion until then. Maybe she put in a special request.
Sixty Seven members of my graduating class were in the Vanguard program. We came to know each other very well.
My only regret is that the people I knew when I was younger, I didn't get to know through high school. Especially those who I went to 1st - 5th grade with(We were always grouped together for reading and math). We always took pictures with our homerooms. Our REAL homerooms were the kids we took all those classes together with. Sadly, there were never any pictures taken of us together.
I am now a Shift Supervisor at CGG Veritas in the computer operations department. I have a wife, Shawn and a daughter, Elizabeth.
Whoever you are, and wherever you may be,
God Bless!
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