| In this section, we will talk about
graduation and our newfound freedom. We will try to re-create the
aura of graduation night, and see how much any of us remembers.
Another feature of this section will be the giving
of advice. Assuming you could get a current high school student to
listen to you, what advice would you give him or her to make the
most of those important years? What would you change about your high
school experience if you could? And don't think you're not
qualified to write an advice column. After all, we're not dealing
with just anybody here -- you are a high school grad-u-ate! Within
you there still beats the heart of a Panther. You didn't graduate
from just any old high school -- you graduated from PASCHAL!
Even if people call you Dr. now, this page is for
you.
Glynnene LePhiew remembers...
 "Pat
Pinckard and I rode to various parties in his "57 Chevy on
graduation night. I don't remember all the houses we went to, but I
think one was John Leatherberry's. I remember arriving back at home
about the time my father was going to work and being so tired. I
have never been much of a night person, even then. We were
determined to stay out all night, though, for this once in a
lifetime event. "My daughter, Cynthia,
graduated on June 2, 1990, which made her graduation even more
special to me, having her graduate exactly 30 years to the date of
my own.
"I remember Robin Combest and I going back to
school a day or two later to pick up our report cards and feeling a
mixture of happiness and sadness. As we walked back to the car,
parked at the back of the school, we commented to each other how bad
those 'temporary' buildings looked, only to realize in later years
that they weren't so temporary. "Remember
all the parties, luaus, teas, etc. that were held our senior year? I
went to 52 myself, sometimes 7 or more a day. I had to miss one day
of partying, though, to go to Turner Falls, OK, with the band. Such
happy memories!" Smiley Irvin talks
about an important lesson he learned...  "On
graduation night I do remember one event clearly....I had a wreck.
My date was Chris Clarke. Just after the crash I was so concerned
about my car that I never even asked Chris how she was doing.....so,
selfish. I'll never forget how self-centered I was at that moment
and how little support and caring I denied to such a wonderful
person as Chris. Sort of a sad memory because of my actions but it
is one event that helped me change from that day forward."
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