First Defining Moment
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| Eighth grade, 1957 |
Marcy, our neighborhood elementary school in Detroit, served
students from kindergarten through eighth grade. I began there in 1952 as a
fourth grader when our family moved from Columbus, Ohio, to Concord Street.
Even in the younger grades, students went to special
subjects classrooms for science, physical education, art, and music. These were
the days before Title IX, so it was common, in the upper grades, for physical
education classes to separate into boys’ and girls’ teams.
One winter during 7th or 8th grade,
each Wednesday, instead of being teamed up with another class, we were the only
group scheduled for physical education. This meant that there were not enough
students to have two boys’ teams and two girls’ teams to play against each
other. We had to play co-ed soccer.
During this era, a school rule existed that girls could wear
only dresses or skirts to school. This made those co-ed soccer games difficult,
uncomfortable, and painful for us girls. “If only we could wear jeans or slacks
for gym class!” we all grumbled.
I decided to write a petition to try to get an exception to
the rule. I cited the freezing temperatures and how our legs were numbed by the
cold, the robust games with the boys, the girls’ discomfort as we worried about
falling, and the limitations on movement those straight skirts posed. The next
day, I talked up the petition in class. Every girl signed it. I delivered the
document to the principal's office, leaving it with the school secretary. A day
or two later, we got word that our request had been granted.
The following Wednesday before physical education class, we girls
strutted into the large restroom, our jeans in paper bags, and changed out of our skirts.
Then we marched onto the field and played soccer, uninhibited.
I still remember how proud I felt about the petition and the
outcome. I’d experienced the “power of the pen” firsthand. I remember how the
girls played full-out, into the game, and how good it felt to be heard.
This experience was a defining moment. It showed me that I
was a leader. I could do things to effect change; I didn’t have to settle for
the status quo.
What was your youthful defining moment?
~ xoA ~
What a great foundational experience for you to have as a young woman.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Iola. It was. xoA
DeleteI like hearing this story again. good for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Terry. It's improved, with the help of my critique group. xoA
DeleteThis is a wonderful example of how to go about and change the world. One small step perhaps, but every journey starts with one.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mark. I appreciate you reading and commenting. xoA
DeleteMan...your younger self is now my younger self's hero. Really an amazing story. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet thing to say, Anna. Thank you. xoA
DeleteI love this story. You did something to make a change for the better.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this was a defining moment, but when I was in high school I was about 130, a bit overweight. I worked hard my junior year and got down to about 118. I did it for me, and I felt good. One of the football jocks asked me out in the beginning of my senior year. I asked him why he didn't ask me out earlier, because I was the same person. When he didn't have an answer, I told him I wasn't interested in a date. (I turned down one of the most popular guys in the whole high school). Many of my friends were shocked, but I didn't want to date the guy just because he didn't care when I was heavier.
I guess my defining moment was standing up for myself and not letting someone think I was any different just because I had lost weight.
Definitely a defining moment, Joan. You realized his lack of depth and extended yourself a measure of self-respect. Love it. Thanks so much for sharing. xoA
DeleteI would have to say that my defining moment was when i decided that I would not fall into the trap that many of the kids I knew growing up in Gary Indiana succumbed to. They all dropped out of school or thought that there was no point. I came from a family of 9 children and i was only one to graduate from high school and college. i had perfect attendance in school from 7th grade until college.
ReplyDeleteDonnee, congratulations on coming to that big decision in your life. Definitely a defining moment. You became a person who wanted more for yourself. I'm curious. What is it that brought you to that decision? Was there a specific incident that you can recall?
DeleteThank you for writing and sharing your story.
xoA