Back then I thought I had everything figured out, but now I wish I could go back in time and make a few adjustments to my youthful decisions. I was a product of my small town, not quite Maybury, but certainly not sophisticated. I was aware of several 'groups' in high school, but my vision was truly narrow; tunnel vision. When I took out my yearbook I was visually flooded with all the pieces of those years I never even acknowledged, all the opportunities I ignored, and the narrow path I chose to follow.
There were the 'hoods'. Their behavior was so foreign to me I had no idea how to interact with them. I see that as ridiculous now, but my small town attitude did not include doing ANYTHING not sanctioned by my parents. I did not smoke or drink or hang out at the diner at the bottom of the hill before school. I did not wear leather, ride a motorcycle or even think of doing anything that wasn't 'proper'.
There were the theater kids. They were more about 'the arts', involved in theater, set design, photography, and making movies. The plays were spectacular, with brother Ron starring as Oliver, to packed audiences week after week. I was a mere dancer in a couple plays, again rubbing elbows with very talented friends who had starring roles.
The vast majority of students at Wachusett were somehow involved in sports. It was the town culture. you either played on a team or watched the team play. You went to at least one, but often several games each week. Football and hockey games were always sellouts. It seems that is no different today. The HS hockey team just won the first ever state championship. But in 1970 there was baseball, gymnastics, dance, cheerleading, track, cross country, field hockey and majorettes. Being active was certainly encouraged. I'd say it was not as driven as Texas is, but truly the cultural norm.
There were the smart kids. I was not one of them, but I successfully hung out with them. I had some self-esteem issues, a bit insecure and self-critical. It was years before I didn't care about 'being just like them' and being comfortable with who I was and wanted to be. During my high school years I envied other people and what seemed to be their perfect lives. They seemed so sure of themselves and how they did life. I know now that is the life of many teens finding a their own path. But back then, I wanted to toe the line, to be the girl others would admire for some promising attribute.
This WAS my world.