I went to school for 12 years in Chicago.(K-12) This was in the midst of the Great Depression and the school system was geared to push "bright" students through the grade school (K-8) as quickly as possible. Therefore I was 12 when I graduated from eighth grade ---about 2 years younger than most of my classmates. Add the natural faster maturation of girls at that age and I was one of the shortest boy or girls in my class of about 32 in January 1941. Then we started high school a week later---I was 12 years old in the middle of 4000 students ranging up to 18 years of age. Was I ever happy to see the summer break come.
When classes resumed in September I remember my mother grumbling about how nothing I had fit anymore---luckily I had an older brother who was in the Army so we were able to put together a respectable wardrobe from his unused civvies. When I went back to school I realized that the lockers were suddenly a usable height and I was able to look girls in the eyes instead of somewhat lower which had always been embarrassing . The crowning glory was when my physical ed instructor wanted to know if I was coming out for basketball!
I had grown almost 6 inches in four months!
I continued growing for the next 5 years and finally was measured at 6'3" when I took my army physical at 19. I weighed 119 pounds ! Somehow over the next 60 years I managed to lose an inch and gain 80 pounds.
That year, 1941, when I turned 13,has always stood out in my mind as the summer I grew up.
(see picture of me in 1944) What about you?
When did you know you were tall ?
I went to school for 12 years in Chicago.(K-12) This was in the midst of the Great Depression and the school system was geared to push "bright" students through the grade school (K-8) as quickly as possible. Therefore I was 12 when I graduated from eighth grade ---about 2 years younger than most of my classmates. Add the natural faster maturation of girls at that age and I was one of the shortest boy or girls in my class of about 32 in January 1941. Then we started high school a week later---I was 12 years old in the middle of 4000 students ranging up to 18 years of age. Was I ever happy to see the summer break come.
When classes resumed in September I remember my mother grumbling about how nothing I had fit anymore---luckily I had an older brother who was in the Army so we were able to put together a respectable wardrobe from his unused civvies. When I went back to school I realized that the lockers were suddenly a usable height and I was able to look girls in the eyes instead of somewhat lower which had always been embarrassing . The crowning glory was when my physical ed instructor wanted to know if I was coming out for basketball!
I had grown almost 6 inches in four months!
I continued growing for the next 5 years and finally was measured at 6'3" when I took my army physical at 19. I weighed 119 pounds ! Somehow over the next 60 years I managed to lose an inch and gain 80 pounds.
That year, 1941, when I turned 13,has always stood out in my mind as the summer I grew up.
I promise to post regularly--at least once a week--and to respond to comments or questions promptly; probably faster if I don't agree with you.
Seagull2000
