Article 2, Volume 1
Setting Goals
On September 4, 1956, I returned to school from summer vacation. I was fired up and ready to go. This year, 4 of my goals were to: (1). be an honor roll student (2) achieve perfect attendance. (3) make the football and baseball teams, and (4) participate in plays or cultutal activities.
We did not have Guidance Counsellors or tutors. In fact, I did not hear of such persons or positions until after I finished high school. So, I was essentially on my own.
Pursuit of goal: honor student
The 1st grading period I earned an "A" in three core subjects. But Algebra was a different story. I could not grasp converting letters to numbers. It was odd because I was a "B" student in math in the 8th grade. I tried, but I could not comprehend. I'd go back in the afternoon and get some help from the teacher, but I would still be puzzled when I left his room.
My first grading period report card featured three "A's" and a "D" in Algebra The next grading period I was determined to get at least a "C", in algebra so I could make the honor roll. It did not happen. I received a complimentary "D", and eventually a "D" for the year. I called the "D" complimentary, because I did not comprehend more than 40 percent of the Algebra that was taught. So, the "D" was for me to accept and move on.
I accepted the D and made a vow that I would never take another Math or Algebra class
(This vow had to be broken when I enrolled at Norfolk State. The registrar told me that Math (which was the same as my HS algebra, but on a higher scale,) was a requirement. I thought, "here I go again." For this class I was fortunate enough to have a teacher who could break the subject down to a point where I could grasp it. I'll be forever grateful to that tall, slim and attractive teacher. I earned a "B" avg in her class. My success in this class helped influence me to study for, and receive a degree in Accounting.)
Perfect attendance
There was a student a class ahead of me, named David Bullock (he lived in the Hollywood Community), who had never missed a day of school - in elementary or high school (he eventually graduated without missing a day of school). His achievement was my encouragement. This year, I achieved my attendance goal. I did not miss a day of school. This was a great accomplishment for me - considering that sometimes in the snow or rain - I walked about two miles to school..
Football team
Although school did not start until September, we started football practice on August 13th. The summer was hot and blistering. Didn't matter. I wanted to play football. I had never played on an organized team in my life. On the 3rd day of practice, we were issued our football equipment. The only equipment I knew about was shoulder pads. I had never heard of kidney pads, knee pads, hip pads and all the other stuff that football players wore.
Sixty guys came out for the team. The coach told us that he was only going to keep 45 players. Because I did not know anything about formal football, I was the last person chosen for the team.
In practice, I was awful. The upper classmen really beat up on me.but Coach Fitz Turner could see some determination in me. On game nites, I would dress for the games, with a 5% assurance factor of playing.
During mid-season, it became apparent that our jerseys were worn. Players were coming to the sidline with the 10 year old jerseys ripped and torn. Players or coaches would ask me to give up my jersey. It was hard for me to do - but I did it. I felt like "the rack."
This all changed, on October 27th, a cold and chilly night at a home game in Peanut Park. A player whose jersey had been ripped, asked me for my jersey. I told him to look in the box and get a jersey, because I was not going to be "the rack" tonight. The stand I made that night really uplifted me. For the first time, as a football player, I felt bold.
In practice, I became bolder and competed much better.
However, at the end of the season, Coach Turner told us that he was going to carry only 33 players the following season, because there would be no graduates this school year ( the school was adding a 12th grade to the cirriculum. Prior, students graduated after completing the11th grade), he advised several of us not to come out for football the next season. I did not take his advice. The following year I was in the top 18 players selected. How did I do it? The answer will be revealed in my Sophomore year coverage.
I will always remember the trip we made to St Emma. Academy (high school). A school that was about 100 miles away. Everybody on the bus had a seat except me. About half way, Lawrence "Bo" Weaver shared his seat with me. I will always remember that good deed by Bo. His action help give me a foundation on how to treat other people.
Baseball team
When spring came, I tried out for the baseball team. I was not selected.
Participation in cultural activities
I loved Civic Class. We were asked to bring a news clipping virtually every day of an important event. Days when I did not have a clipping I could give a presentation that sounded like I was reading from a newspaper.My classmates loved it. They were amazed and amused that I could read from my mind. The teacher, Mrs. Mitchell, frequently thanked me for my verbal reports - though she never found out that I was reading from the mind.
My success in this class, led to me being selected on a team of 4 to represent our school in a "Quiz'em on the Air" a radio program in Norfolk in February 1958 (my sophomore year). Our team competed with 3 other high schools in the region in a contest about news stories in the local newspaper (Virginian Pilot) during the past two weeks. My teammates included Carol Boone, David Bullock, and Lillian Brinkley - three of the top accademic students in the school. (Carol was not only brainy, but in the opinion of one, and perhaps many, she was considered to be one of the top 5 most attractive girls in the school. She subsequentially graduated from Virginia State College & retired from the military as a high ranking officer).
Radio program results and lesson learned
We did not finish first in the contest. However, I learned a lesson that day that has helped me through the years to to prepare for assignments, tests, and work. What was the lesson? Don't just read, but also study.
Note
The East Suffolk High School Alumni Association is scheduled to meet monthly in Suffolk, VA.
Grady E. Bryant
ESH60
.
Setting Goals
On September 4, 1956, I returned to school from summer vacation. I was fired up and ready to go. This year, 4 of my goals were to: (1). be an honor roll student (2) achieve perfect attendance. (3) make the football and baseball teams, and (4) participate in plays or cultutal activities.
We did not have Guidance Counsellors or tutors. In fact, I did not hear of such persons or positions until after I finished high school. So, I was essentially on my own.
Pursuit of goal: honor student
The 1st grading period I earned an "A" in three core subjects. But Algebra was a different story. I could not grasp converting letters to numbers. It was odd because I was a "B" student in math in the 8th grade. I tried, but I could not comprehend. I'd go back in the afternoon and get some help from the teacher, but I would still be puzzled when I left his room.
My first grading period report card featured three "A's" and a "D" in Algebra The next grading period I was determined to get at least a "C", in algebra so I could make the honor roll. It did not happen. I received a complimentary "D", and eventually a "D" for the year. I called the "D" complimentary, because I did not comprehend more than 40 percent of the Algebra that was taught. So, the "D" was for me to accept and move on.
I accepted the D and made a vow that I would never take another Math or Algebra class
(This vow had to be broken when I enrolled at Norfolk State. The registrar told me that Math (which was the same as my HS algebra, but on a higher scale,) was a requirement. I thought, "here I go again." For this class I was fortunate enough to have a teacher who could break the subject down to a point where I could grasp it. I'll be forever grateful to that tall, slim and attractive teacher. I earned a "B" avg in her class. My success in this class helped influence me to study for, and receive a degree in Accounting.)
Perfect attendance
There was a student a class ahead of me, named David Bullock (he lived in the Hollywood Community), who had never missed a day of school - in elementary or high school (he eventually graduated without missing a day of school). His achievement was my encouragement. This year, I achieved my attendance goal. I did not miss a day of school. This was a great accomplishment for me - considering that sometimes in the snow or rain - I walked about two miles to school..
Football team
Although school did not start until September, we started football practice on August 13th. The summer was hot and blistering. Didn't matter. I wanted to play football. I had never played on an organized team in my life. On the 3rd day of practice, we were issued our football equipment. The only equipment I knew about was shoulder pads. I had never heard of kidney pads, knee pads, hip pads and all the other stuff that football players wore.
Sixty guys came out for the team. The coach told us that he was only going to keep 45 players. Because I did not know anything about formal football, I was the last person chosen for the team.
In practice, I was awful. The upper classmen really beat up on me.but Coach Fitz Turner could see some determination in me. On game nites, I would dress for the games, with a 5% assurance factor of playing.
During mid-season, it became apparent that our jerseys were worn. Players were coming to the sidline with the 10 year old jerseys ripped and torn. Players or coaches would ask me to give up my jersey. It was hard for me to do - but I did it. I felt like "the rack."
This all changed, on October 27th, a cold and chilly night at a home game in Peanut Park. A player whose jersey had been ripped, asked me for my jersey. I told him to look in the box and get a jersey, because I was not going to be "the rack" tonight. The stand I made that night really uplifted me. For the first time, as a football player, I felt bold.
In practice, I became bolder and competed much better.
However, at the end of the season, Coach Turner told us that he was going to carry only 33 players the following season, because there would be no graduates this school year ( the school was adding a 12th grade to the cirriculum. Prior, students graduated after completing the11th grade), he advised several of us not to come out for football the next season. I did not take his advice. The following year I was in the top 18 players selected. How did I do it? The answer will be revealed in my Sophomore year coverage.
I will always remember the trip we made to St Emma. Academy (high school). A school that was about 100 miles away. Everybody on the bus had a seat except me. About half way, Lawrence "Bo" Weaver shared his seat with me. I will always remember that good deed by Bo. His action help give me a foundation on how to treat other people.
Baseball team
When spring came, I tried out for the baseball team. I was not selected.
Participation in cultural activities
I loved Civic Class. We were asked to bring a news clipping virtually every day of an important event. Days when I did not have a clipping I could give a presentation that sounded like I was reading from a newspaper.My classmates loved it. They were amazed and amused that I could read from my mind. The teacher, Mrs. Mitchell, frequently thanked me for my verbal reports - though she never found out that I was reading from the mind.
My success in this class, led to me being selected on a team of 4 to represent our school in a "Quiz'em on the Air" a radio program in Norfolk in February 1958 (my sophomore year). Our team competed with 3 other high schools in the region in a contest about news stories in the local newspaper (Virginian Pilot) during the past two weeks. My teammates included Carol Boone, David Bullock, and Lillian Brinkley - three of the top accademic students in the school. (Carol was not only brainy, but in the opinion of one, and perhaps many, she was considered to be one of the top 5 most attractive girls in the school. She subsequentially graduated from Virginia State College & retired from the military as a high ranking officer).
Radio program results and lesson learned
We did not finish first in the contest. However, I learned a lesson that day that has helped me through the years to to prepare for assignments, tests, and work. What was the lesson? Don't just read, but also study.
Note
The East Suffolk High School Alumni Association is scheduled to meet monthly in Suffolk, VA.
Grady E. Bryant
ESH60
.
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