Memoirs of MHS

I have survived what some might say is the worst four years of a person's a life, others refer to it as high school.

Reflecting back on my four years at Marshalltown High School, I honestly can't remember a time where I thought to myself, "This place really sucks."

Instead, I spend my time thinking back on all of the fun, crazy times I shared with the Class of 2012 and the wonderful people I met along the way. So let's hop into my time machine and I'll explain year-by-year my four-year journey at MHS.

Freshman year: I remember walking into Mr. Hanson's journalism class for the first time. Words really couldn't describe the fear that I felt. The look on the man's face along with a pretty dry sense of humor about had me sucking my thumb in terror for the first month. However, it got better. Over the next three years, I came to realize that Steve Hanson was one of the smartest and most influential teachers at MHS. I would say that I learned the most from Mr. Hanson in my years at the high school that has continued to help me now at my internship at the Times-Republican. Let's be honest, the man's a saint.

Sophomore year: I will never forget my Advanced Oral and Written Communication class with Dr. Hawk in the portable. Theresa Jo Miller would let me borrow her "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List" book every Wednesday for free reading. The book was so hilarious (I thought), I would bust out laughing in the middle of this silent class and then be punished with walking laps around Dr. Hawk's classroom regardless of the weather. I think I remember doing 15 laps one time (each lap represents one thing or word you weren't supposed to do or say), some in the rain.

Junior year: Who could forget Early Morning Advanced American Lit. with Ms. Hale? I mean, between the awful things we would do to her (like hide under her desk or switch out her calming CD with "The Thong Song" by Sisqo), she should have had a heart attack by the end of the year. But Ms. Hale not only taught us the things we should know for the test, she taught us things that we could carry with us for the rest of our lives. She connected with us in a way that teachers don't usually connect and I will never forget that...or the stories about her dog, Tucka'. After all, teaching is just not about what's in a text book, it's also about the life lessons we learn along the way.

Senior year: My last year at MHS was like no other. New leadership mixed with a more upbeat, positive learning environment changed the whole persona of the building. It almost seemed as if I was going to a different school. I can say that for the first time ever, we actually had a school assembly and not just one, but several. There were plenty of fond memories made at football games, in the classroom and outside of school and I can honestly say it was a pleasure getting to graduate with the Class of 2012.

There are some of those memories (and people...or administrators...no names mentioned) from high school we would just like to forget, but for now, I'll just celebrate the journey that it took to get me to this point and be proud to be Marshalltown High School alumni.