THEN:
What is your memory of arriving as a freshman at Austin High in 1979?
“On my first day at AHS, I arrived wearing my favorite green velour dress, feathered hair, burgundy nail polish, a mouth full of braces, and a wicked tan. Intimidated, I walked up the main stairs to the second floor – those stairs just outside the commons, leading up to the administrative offices and the large expanse of lockers. My Candi’s sandals were teetering awkwardly and noisily on those concrete stairs. Heading up, I saw an older guy looking into the stairwell, surveying the fresh female action and personally giving me an approving “once-over.” Welcome to high school, ladies! I had just turned fourteen.”
What activities were you involved in during your years in high school?
“Looking back, I wish I had joined a wider array of clubs, but I loved my activities, mostly involving the performing arts: Red Jackets, Steppers, and Red Dragons.
Joining the Red Jackets was an awesome way to get involved. For the spring semester, we were required to get to school early to practice half-time routines with the marching band, in Austin High’s front parking lot. It was a pretty great way to start the day – great music, good exercise, fun friends. There was a tradition among Red Jackets (always females, for some reason) that involved wearing our hot rollers in our hair during this early practice – I suppose so we could prevent a case of limp hair or the frizzies, for the school day ahead. The problem was, of course, that we were seen sporting our hot rollers by half the student body. So much for vanity! I’m not sure we thought through that strategy. I also loved being part of the Steppers (now called the Red Jackets) who were informally -- and unfairly -- known as the “whore corps.” If this was supposed to be a shaming label, it did not have that effect on me. Burdened with a “prissy-chick” rep (which, I admit, was generally true), I secretly liked the extra bit of “edge” my association with the dance team afforded me. Really, we were just normal high school girls who loved to dance! Still, our faculty sponsor, Ms. Baker, issued a rule that we were not allowed to display a hickey on our necks, or anywhere else, while in uniform. This was never a problem, as far as I knew. Seriously, how many people gave or received a hickey in high school?”
What were your favorite classes and who were your favorite teachers?
“There were many teachers I loved and valued at Austin High. Two teachers, Sandi Brinkman and Tomacita Olivares, deserve special thanks for writing college recommendations for me, supporting my admission to Columbia University, in NYC, my top pick of colleges. I loved English teacher, Mr. Warner Dahlberg, who expected excellence and did not hand out “As” for substandard work. I recall approaching him about a paper on which he gave me a less than stellar grade, making some sort of
weak argument that surely I deserved a better grade. He just stared at me, blankly and incredulously, as if I were wearing my underwear on my head, and said: “No, go back and re-write it.” He knew I could do better, and so I did just that.I loved Coach Patrick, who impossibly made the history of medieval Europe interesting to easily-bored teenagers. I loved Spanish teacher Ken Gilliam, who, with deadpan delivery, offered a corny joke at thestart of every class to a room full of unappreciative teenagers. He suggested that if we were feeling stressed we should “eat two Oreos and take a nap.” A great piece of advice I remember to this day. And I loved biology teacher, Bill Glover, who was always patient and unflappable, even when students asked embarrassing and ignorant questions during sex education.I was impressed, and somewhat intimidated, by bad-ass English teacher, Brendan Kenney, with his PhD and his edgy attitude. And an honorable mention goes to many more teachers, including Colonel Harding, Mr. McClure, and Ms. Cathy Martin, who was the first teacher to invite me to consider cross-cultural perspectives. Also Coach Hancock, who supported my early zeal (abandoned too soon) as a runner. He even suggested that I compete with Blyth Tovar for the fastest 1.5 mile run among females in the school. I was not fool enough to take on that challenge. Now, as a teacher of college students, I understand just how hard (though hopefully rewarding) these teachers’ jobs were, and I wish I could let them all know how much they are appreciated.”
Any memories that really stand out, at any point in your four years?
“I have many sweet and poignant memories: Saturday nights with my besties at the movies or Taco Bell... cheering loudly at games... embracing fashion trends such as preppy clothes (ugh!) and embroidered Mexican dresses (nice!)... giggling with friends over lunch as we scoped out that “special crush”... too many sweet snapshots to capture here.I do need to mention the vivid memories surrounding the loss of Austin High classmates, who passed during our time there. Among them, I remember Jeanette Gonzalez, who was in my government class one day, and not there the next. She was sweet and lovely, and still missed by many. I remember Tom Moore, who was in my Spanish class. He passed away in the middle of freshman year, profoundly changing the tenor of my high school experience. He was funny and strikingly handsome, and he cracked everyone up when he requested to be called “Jesus,” when we were instructed to pick a Spanish-sounding name for class. I had not lived a sheltered existence to that point, but the shock of these losses reinforced to my young self just how complex and painful life can be.”
Anything you would go back and do differently?
“Absolutely. Most of these mistakes involved not taking the opportunity, in my adolescent self-absorption, to get to know, and fully value, some great people who were in my orbit. Some of these missed opportunities still sting. Frankly, I was an introverted girl and did not put myself out there, as more socially extroverted people tend to do. Today? I’m still instinctively introverted, but I have no trouble putting myself out there, and I have greatly enjoyed the “belated” high school friendships I have formed, through the magic of social media.”
What is your most vivid memory of senior year at Austin High?
“One of my favorite memories of senior year involved participating in the Red Dragons’ production of “Dracula,” a stylish adaptation of the classic tale, with hip updates, complete with Pink Floyd soundtrack. My role, along with 14 other young women, was that of “vampire wife,” which involved wearing goth makeup and flowy costumes, enacting a slinky dance to “Shine on You Crazy Diamond.” Among the cast were Mike Frisbie, as Dracula, and Abel Salas, as Renfield. We had really big fun
(chemically enhanced, for some people), laughing and gossiping in the dressing rooms, listening to loud music, and singing ‘Baba O’Reilly’ at the top of our lungs. And for about three months my senior year, you could say I was polyamorously married to Mike Frisbie, a fact I’m sure Mike has forgotten. As a member of the senior girls’ group AKH (All Kinds of Help!), I was tasked with designing our t-shirt
illustration. I hatched a “Gangsta Maroo” concept, where Maroo is looking cool and clutching a fish (fish = freshman, get it?). However, one member of our group had some sort of dramatic conflict with a freshman girl (something about stealing a boyfriend), and so I was asked to change out the fish with something else. See pics.The first and only time I got called into Ms. McGee’s office was during senior year, when she sat me
down and demanded to know why I had not applied for any academic scholarships. I watched as she shuffled through the paperwork in my student file, with a look of confusion and frustration on her face, trying to sort out how I had personally missed the boat on scholarships. I had no idea what to tell her. I had no clue there were scholarships out there for me. Ms. McGee did arrange for me to apply for, and
receive, a small scholarship that had not been snapped up already by another student. Thanks, Ms. McGee?
Finally, I remember the super-awesome senior party (“Up, Up, and Away”!), at Saengerrunde Hall, with musical guest Joe King Carasco and the Crowns. Breakfast served at 2am! Into the early morning, I danced nearly every dance with my friend, Rey Villarreal. We had a great time, closing out senior year with big fun, before heading off to the next phase of life. Rey was fine young man and great person, who left us too early (2017). He is dearly missed by many, including me.”
What advice would you give your teenage self now?
“On the TV show Frasier, Niles Crane hilariously spoke of the “the dark alleyways of
underachievement.” Of course, the Crane brothers steered well-clear of those dark alleyways, but I did not. I spent every minute of high school suboptimizing my education and other rewarding opportunities. I half-assed my way through my homework, not realizing I wasn’t even trying. I did much of my homework sitting in front of MTV, waiting for Duran Duran videos to come on. Truth be told, I did not really learn how to apply myself – I did not recognize I had real intellectual firepower -- until I was in graduate school. So, my advice to my teenage self? Turn off the TV (or other electronics) and engage with the world!”
NOW:
Where did life take you after high school?
“I came really close to staying in Austin and attending UT. But then the acceptance letter from Columbia came through, and I had to go. It was my top college choice, so for the next 6 years, I lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I had big fun as a cheerleader for my four years in college, which allowed me to travel the east coast. I went back and forth between career aspirations in journalism and psychology. In the end, psychology won out, and I got my master’s degree in organizational psychology after college.”
What are you doing now?
“I worked for many rewarding years in human resources, but I could not shake my interest in the grittier side of human nature. So I went on to get my Ph.D. in clinical psychology at University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) in Dallas and have spent the last 20 years in that profession. I’ve served on faculty at UTSW and at Johns Hopkins University, as well as clinical placements at Veterans Affairs and Austin State Hospital, my present gig. My current focus is forensic evaluations, assessing people for the criminal courts in Texas, including competency to stand trial, violence risk assessment, and other types of psychological evaluations. You could say that understanding human complexity is my job. I have lived many places in the winding path of my life, including New York, Massachusetts, Alabama, and places all over Texas. People scratch their heads and ask me why I have never pursued a more conventional life of marriage and parenting. The answers are, of course, complex – and stories for another time.”
What could young people of today learn from our generation?
“I would say to young people: Be sure you value and protect that fine piece of technology you carry with you every day and use all day long... and I’m not talking about your smart phone.
The human brain is the most complex and sophisticated piece of (bio)technology in the known universe. It is an astonishing masterpiece, so nurture it, don’t fill it with sh*t it doesn’t need, learn to use it wisely. In fear mode, the brain is capable of enacting selfish, violent, and reactive behavior. Other people become stereotyped enemies, and priorities become short-sighted. But, when allowed to transcend our primal, irrational impulses, the brain is capable of amazing genius, ingenuity and altruism. The biological manifestation of your soul, perhaps?Yes, this planet faces serious challenges, which has been true at every point in history. But humans are more than capable of solving the problems we’ve created. So, young people: Believe in yourself and in your future, even if the path is hard. Believe that the very best of human nature, if nurtured, will find better ways to live and to treat each other. Believe in your own potential and unique gifts. And safeguard those fine gifts you hold: your very own brain and transcendent spirit.”
