Robert Smith:
CLASS OF 1955
Edwin Denby Technical & Preparatory High SchoolClass of 1955
Detroit, MI
Wayne State UniversityClass of 1980
Detroit, MI
Jackson Junior High SchoolClass of 1950
Detroit, MI
Robert's Story
Denby and I parted company at the start of my senior year. My so called counselor made me an offer I couldn't refuse. He said and I quote:" Why don't you quit and make room for someone who wants to learn." I have to admit, it seemed like a good idea at the time. My one regret was not being there for graduation and losing touch with my old classmates. I probably should have graduated with an eariler class but,1955 was the year I earned my GED. I'm dying to know how real life treated all those hotshot jocks and cheerleaders who wouldn't have considered hanging with us ordinary dudes. Did they go on to fame and fortune in the real world as they thought they had in high school? For myself, life after Denby proved to be no adventure. While far from exciting, it did provide insight into the real world. I waded through a host of dead end jobs, thanks I thought, to being without a high school diploma, ' Well, that's all your qualified for' or so they often told me. "You have no experience was another popular phrase!" How was I to gain experience if they wouldn't hire me? When your young and starting out, you invariably get handed the short end of the stick? You soon realize that the so called "Real World" is fixtated on job applicants with diplomas, any diploma! The age of the "Self Made Man\Woman" was dead. Most employers to whom I applied, demanded a high school diploma and often professed they prefered a college degree for what was laughingly refered to as a starting position.Thankfully,the painful effect on my ego was shortlived due to the Korean police action hanging over the heads of non-college dropouts like myself. I woke up one dreary winter morning to find myself standing inline at Detroit's Fort Wayne, swearing to be faithful to IKE and the US Army. Fortunately for me, the Army had a pressing need to fill the rosters of some special schools. Here a highschool diploma was also the norm but, the army encouraged applicants to take a GED exam. After a few hours of testing, I became a bonified high school graduate. Looking back, I'm happy to admit that one never knows when the efforts and persistance of a few dedicated teachers would prove providential. The next eight weeks was memorable if at times occasionally unpleasant. However at the end of basic training, I was pounds lighter with a duffle bag full of uniforms and a card carrying member of the "brown shoe" army. In my hand, I had a thirty day pass,very little money and orders to report to the Army Security Agency School at Ft Devens Mass. Being part of the military gave me a whole new perspective towards education. Where else but the service, would I have been able to select the 9TH.USASA Field Station in the Philippines as my next place of duty? Life on Clark Air Base was totally another world from what I had been accustomed to in the states. It was far from the confines of ordinary civilian life and most of the cultural restrictions as well. I suppose it would be fair to say that Clark was...Expand for more
the school where my real world education began. I still have fond memories of languishing under the sheltering palms while lounging by the pool. The weather in the Phillipines being normally sunny and hot, I chose to embark on a second career when the need for a lifeguard arose. I had earned my Senior Lifesaver and Water Safety Instructor badge through the auspices of the Red Cross. There's nothing quite like being in the Army and living on an Air Force base. However, even paradise has it's limitations. I just could not bring himself to make the army a lifelong career.I gratefully accepted my honorable discharge at Fort Sheridan,Indiana and returned to Detroit whereupon, I landed a job with Continental Aviation. That job didn't last and after a few years with Continental, I was laid off.Since I hadn't used the the GI bill, I thought I might as well enroll in college and became a full time freshman at Wayne State. After two years thanks to Ike's recession,I dropped out to get married and took a job with the City of Detroit as a Public Aid Worker.(Something like a social worker without the degree.) I transfered from Public Aid Worker to rat catcher (Health Inspector, Jr. Grade)when the opportunity arose and remained with the Detroit Health Department for what seemed like eternity. Once again enhancing my status by attending classes at Michigan State and qualifying for a Registered Sanitarian Certificate(No additional funds forthcoming but,a ton of prestige):>)I was promoted to Senior Health Inspector of Garbage Cans. Viewing garbage cans daily soon grew tiresome rapidly and I next applied to the Housing Inspection Division when a position opened there. Shortly upon being accepted, I made Supervising Housing Inspector. A year or two later, when the oportunity to take the exam for Building Inspector arose, I joined the Building Department as a field inspector. I never gave up on Wayne State though while working for the city and managed to graduate from night school in 1980. All in all,I attended Wayne off and on from 1947 to 1980. Thirty three years, may not be something of a record then again, not too shabby for a high school dropout! Then came 1992 and I could finally say: "Free at Last." I retired as Supervising Building Inspector with thirty some years under my belt prompting my late wife and I to move to Florida as soon as the ink dried on my retirement papers. At this point, assuming that you've just plodded through some fifty years of my personal history, you maybe wondering if after all that time I'm still nursing a grudge about my experiences in high school. The answer is no, even though I don't consider high school a high point in my life. I regret that it was less than a stellar experience but, life goes on. Looking back, I can honestly count more successes than failures. I'm living well in Florida and really don't miss those Michigan winters. I try to look at life as being on balance. What you lose at one end you gain on the other.
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