#52 Stories--Story #3

What extracurricular activities did you get involved in?

While I was a kid in elementary school I participated in 4H at our local neighborhood club called Sunset 4H. A lot of neighbor kids were in the club too. I tried gardening (Mr. Scariot was our local gardening leader), photography (Huck Hagenbuch was our leader), Foods (I don't remember the leader but my one foods competition at the country fair I did Lemon Squares, I remember that much.) I tried cake decorating, floral design, and sewing.  None of those really stuck.  I did participate with Dairy Goats tough and I LOVED that. 

I got my first goats when I was about 10: Klara (an black and white Alpine) and Surprise (a LaMancha--they have minimal external ears--she looked like camel.)  MaryLou Rawitser was our goats leader.  We learned how to care fro them and to shop them from the time there were just little things and still ate from a bottle until they were at least a year old and were sent back to the dairy to get a little bigger and be bred.  It was a great situation for us as we fostered the goaties as babies which helped the dairy, then returned them to the dairy when they were old enough to get about being milkers.  The baby goats have personalities like puppies--only smarter.  They are AWESOME!  We'd show them all summer long and then live at the country fair in San Jose for about a week with the goats.  So. Much. Fun!

In junior high I also tried Girls Basketball and then Track & Field.  I was left handed but that was the only advantage I had in basketball.  I was pretty uncoordinated and really never like running.  For Track, I really enjoyed high jumping and the discus and shot put.  Probably becuase at hte junior leevl there isn't much running at all. 

In junior high I was part of the student government.  My role wasn't an elected one though--it was the faculty selection that partnered with the student elected leaders.  I was the Student Senate president--or some such title. I suppose I was pretty responsible and dependable.  I had had some leadership experience in 4H and then throughout Young Women at church. I just recall I got to call and book the DJs for the school dances each month or so.  Who lets a 13 year old do that?!

A little in junior high and then again in high school, at least my senior year, I was on the yearbook staff.  I had photography experience and could write fairly well. That was a fun time too!

I started a love affair with live theater in high school as a 4 year member of the Mime Troupe.  A group of kids across all four years that learned pantomime sketches and did some improv too!  I love the improv stuff.  We performed for the school, at elementary schools, local city celebrations and county fairs and once a year at the Shriners' Children's hospital in San Francisco.  That was always a good time.  I made great friends and learned a LOT!  I learned about auditions and along with the drama classes I took from Mr. Maya, the drama teacher, I learned to love performing and making people laugh. Again, I had opportunities for leadership here too as I eventually served as Mime Troupe president.

Eventually I did stage management for other plays and eventually acted in some and as a senior, had a leading role in the Senior Play and then directed the student directed Spring show that year with my friend, Darin Carter.

Because I had room in my schedule my senior year I also tried out for the brand spanking new Chamber Choir--which I made mostly due to the flexibility of my schedule than for my talent.  I learned so much from Mr. Robb, the director, and made terrific memories and friends.