Oh, those memories, they never really go away altogether, do they? We had been bitten by the JW bug, and being young people, were at the mercy of other grown-ups.
I remember having to go in service on the cold, snowy, icy days, and NOT being able to wear pants because it would not be suitable attire for a female. We would be "dropped off" at a corner and told to just start "here", and that someone would be working to meet us from the other end. Many times, we would keep going, freezing our buns off, and then "see" that the others in our group had gone to find the car to get warm--these were adults!
And sometimes I remember, finishing the whole block and waiting and waiting until an adult reappeared. We would "wonder" where they went.
The worry and stress that came with trying to meet the goals for a "good little witness" of getting the right number of monthly hours/mags/books/backcalls/sudies, etc. And being on the Ministry School, and always, yes always, "setting a good example" for the younger students.
Trying to get to every single meeting, even though we were poor, lived in the country, and had no transportation. For many years we were at the mercy of whomever provided the transportation as to when we would "finally" get home. Some took no note that we were shool kids who had to get up at five thirty to meet the bus--and not to mention, that we had homework to do and tests to study for--they would lag behind "associating" until nearly every last person had departed the Hall.
The two hour Thursday night meeting was the worse. Sometimes we didn't get home until eleven. I'd have to do my homework under the covers with a flashlight. I was always told by my mother that I should be more "appreciative". Those school years were very stressful. The homework was so burdensome, in all my classes--every night. The thought then was to get through school with a good education, so you could be self-sufficient and be able to pioneer. JW's didn't even consider going to college.
For many years, and all through high school, I was THE only female JW in our school. There was one other male, and then a bit later, when the black students were integrated into the white schools, a dear friend of mine was able to attend through graduation. It was like we were "from another planet". This was in a graduation class of just shy of 500 students.
One particular class of English was taught by the wife of a local Church Minister. I always thought she hated me for being a JW. She made my life miserable, and would give me no higher than a D on some of my best compositions and essays, with some nonsense explanation. The final semester of tenth grade she gave me a C. English had always been one of my best subjects. I was so glad to pass on to the next year, although during that time, it was her grade only that kept me off the honor roll. I dreaded her class.
Thank you for the post. I'm so glad I don't have to live like that anymore. I'm sure the students since then have had their own horrors to get through. Things have changed, but it's still very difficult when you are a young person and "have to be so different" from everyone else.
Karen
Edited by - Sentinel on 14 July 2002 17:34:15