Were your schooldays the best days of your life
By p1kef1sh
@p1kef1sh (45681)
March 23, 2008 8:37am CST
I found that my old school has its own website the other day and I spent a nostalgic few minutes looking at photos of a place that I haven't seen in nearly 30 years. Now I went to an English boarding school and pretty much hated every single day of it. I learnt a huge amount about people and how petty minded they can be. I learnt how to fight and how to be socially aloof. Something that I have worked hard to redress ever since. But I have been called arrogant in my time and I link that directly with my schooldays. I still have one or two friends from those days, but not many, because I didn't like the people much. But as I have grown older, I have increasingly thought back to those days. They did help me set my moral code, they educated me phenomenally well and I am confident in most people's company. But was I happier back then compared to now. No I wasn't. I love aging and I am so much more appreciative of what I have got, and what I don't actually need than I was then. Schools are different now I think, but I wouldn't want to go back. Would you?
7 people like this
28 responses
@ellie333 (21016)
•
23 Mar 08
I am still best friends with the girl I met the very first day at primary school even though she is a grandma now and lives hundreds of miles away so for that friendship I would go back and for the beautiful buildings that were my primary and junior school, but they no longer there, been knocked down to make way for rabbit hutch sized housing with no character. I didn't enjoy school but knuckled down done my work and was pleased when I was old enough to leave. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
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23 Mar 08
In fact she is the only one from school that I keep in touch with but another close friend of mine who I've known about 17 years also went to the school but was a few years below me so have got to know since and my ex-husband was a pupil too but many years before me and didn't know him from school either. I went up to Lincolnshire to visit my friend last year and it is always like we have just seen each other yesterday. The old buildings were full of character and very beautiful and yes you are right there is now a souless building there in its place. Such a shame eh!. Ellie :D
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
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23 Mar 08
Still being friends with someone from your first day at school is really quite remarkable. My mother has a friend like that too. I think that the only way to survive school if you don't like it is to get stuck in. That way, maybe the years pass more quickly. No doubt you old school has been replaced by something soulless now. I rarely see a modern school that looks an attractive place to visit. I used to be a school governor and when the DfeS gave us some money, they ere so specific about what we built, that we couldn't afford more than a boring office block. Progress!
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@millardos (408)
• France
23 Mar 08
that's true every time we look at my photos album i want to relive this moments especially when we were in at a school or university even if the studies were difficult, we never mind cause there was something which is worth than everything.... it's friendship and friends
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@millardos (408)
• France
23 Mar 08
and even one day i was looking at one of my books of memories and i shed tears cause it reminds me a good time of my childhood
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@mummymo (23706)
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23 Mar 08
I wouldn't say they were the best of my life but although there were some bad points to my schooldays there were a lot of good too! My old school does have a website and I have seen it but I also visit it often as my son goes to the same school! He also went to the same primary school as I did and my daughter is there now! I don't think I would have liked a boarding school - I know you would get a decent education there but I loved to be among my family and would have missed them terribly sweetheart! I sometimes jokingly tell my kids I am going to send them off to boarding school but I think I would be more upset than they were if I did! xxx
1 person likes this
@mummymo (23706)
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23 Mar 08
I don't think you are mean - I think you try to hide the fact that you are a big softy really! I guess it would be a good experience if it was something you wanted to do and she was old enough to make an educated decision! I suppose it helped get used to her going off to Uni! xxx
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
23 Mar 08
I always said that I would never send a child of mine to a boarding school. But when my daughter was 16 she really wanted to go, so we let her. I must say it really helped her blossom. But she loved it and we think that she definitely got something out of it. But I know what you mean by the upset bit. Still we got over it!! LOL. Aren't I mean.
2 people like this
@novataylor (6570)
• United States
23 Mar 08
I'd never go back, not for anything! I, like you, are much happier now than I ever was back then, even with the innocence I was chock full of and the sunny outlook I had about everything. Hmmm, I still have that sunny outlook, oddly enough. And now, it's balanced with experience and an appreciation of things that I couldn't have had when I was younger. I love aging too and the sense of contentment that has come with it and knowing who I am, my true self, with all it's faults and fallibilities. There's a security within myself that only comes with time and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
If anyone calls you arrogant, they don't know you at all, and are assuming arrogance from your well-educated and rather posh sounding accent and manner of speaking. You are so far from arrogant, you're actually rather self-deprecating to a degree, and CHARMING to an infinite degree. Gee, you think someone might think that I have a crush on you? D'oh!!
1 person likes this
@novataylor (6570)
• United States
23 Mar 08
If we both weren't already married, you'd be so in for it, mister! But if one of us could hop across that pond, there'd be fireworks from here to eternity, you'd see them all the way to China! That riding crop would get a hell of a workout, among other things.......
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
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23 Mar 08
I'm all a blush again. I do have the accent etc. But I can be horrid if I don't watch it. Yes, you do have a sunny outlook and a great sense of balance. You might not want to go back, but you certainly learned a lot. I have been the sometime recipient.
1 person likes this
@MsEddie86 (234)
• United States
23 Mar 08
the only school year i would like to go back to was the 10th grade in high school because i had so much fun. i enjoyed everyday. i still have my bestfriend from high school. other than that i would not want to go back, in middle school i was influenced by others way to much and therefore i got in alot of trouble and i really hated that part of my life. but now i am happier because i have learned to be a better person and to follow my own instincts and be myself and that is what has gotten me to where i am now.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8763)
• United Kingdom
23 Mar 08
If I could go back to school and be how I am now then it might be ok but school certainly wasn't the best time of my life. College was ok. I liked that, well, apart from the lessons! My education was pretty average. I think my parents taught me the more important stuff which I didn't teach myself and you mention conficence, I gained that more from being in a youth theatre group. That, to be perfectly honest, I am sure had more influence on me than my schooling. I did well academically in school but I would not want to relive those years. My life's not exactly perfect and there are a lot of things not going too well but I would not swap it for going back to school.
@pumpkinjam (8763)
• United Kingdom
23 Mar 08
Nostalgia can be a good thing. There are certain times of my life I would love to be, the only thing wrong would be there would be no children (well, that's not necessarily a bad thing!) I once just went for a walk around where my sister used to live and got quite emotional about it because it was a place of good memories. Looking forward is best though I think. This time next year, we;ll be miwwionaires!
@p1kef1sh (45681)
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23 Mar 08
Sorry that things are not as good as they might be. I guess the problems with your Landlord's agent don't help. Theatre groups we like. My daughter was in one and if nothing else, she learnt some great life skills. I think that it is better to go forwards. But I am in a very nostalgic mood at the moment. Heaven knows why.
1 person likes this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
29 Mar 08
As far as the academics and the pressure I had to face in the school in India, I'd say No, I wouldn't want to go back. But I did have fun and learnt some things in life at school.
Again, I enjoyed school in the Middle East a lot...but looking back...we were all pampered brats and selfish too. All we thought of was ourselves (individually). I didn't make any friends that lasted...in fact, I have a different best friend each year!
If I did have a chance to go back now, knowing what I do now, I'd probably live and enjoy school life differently.
The school(or rather my classmates) in India did help me mould myself as a person which I think is more important than getting bookish knowledge.
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
23 Mar 08
My school days were probably the worse days of my life and I am so glad I don't have to re-live them. Sure, I had some good friends back there in school, too, but it didn't make up for all the other things that went on. And, the adults (teachers and staff) weren't much better, either. Now that I'm older, I look back and really see how bad the adults were and I have no clue as to how they got a job working with children. I think I would have done better having never gone to school.
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
23 Mar 08
Thank you for the comments about the art. 
It's funny the perspective you get when you're adult and can see things through an adult's eyes, eh?
It's funny the perspective you get when you're adult and can see things through an adult's eyes, eh?
@shewolf52002 (1214)
• United States
23 Mar 08
O my word! I thought I would be unique in the fact that my school days (all of them except college) were the WORST days of my life! I not only did not enjoy them I despised them! Kids were cruel to us because we were poor and I was overweight add to that, we moved tat least twice a year and you get a pretty horrific experience. You know what though? I always thought the rest of the kids were having the time of their life? Through this post I am thinking I missed it entirely? Sounds like most of us were miserable.
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
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23 Mar 08
When school is bad it is the pits. Totally. I even had to live there, so I couldn't escape at the end of the day. Children can be very cruel and although I was bullied I survived better than some. The weird thing is; on ,y first weekend I was knocked unconscious by another boy who hit me over the head with a torch. A few months ago I saw him on TV. He's what we call a New Age Traveller now - or Hippy. No possessions, lives off the land (and state benefits). Very in touch with his Karma etc. Funny how people change.
1 person likes this
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
24 Mar 08
Yes, the schooldays were really memorable. Most especially the high school days. I had plenty of fun aside from the things that I have learned. I also gained a best friend who is still my best friend until now. Well, those were the days. Wish I could go back.
@jezzikabret (245)
• United States
29 Mar 08
I wouldn't want go back to school myself. It was way too much drama and I am much happier now. Now I can do things and take college classes that pertain to what I want to do with my life. Instead of spending nine hours a day doing things that don't matter a whole lot to me. I learned a lot in school both academic and social. But you'd have to pay me a lot to even consider going back, lol. Great discussion, got me really thinking!
@popocan (222)
• Hong Kong
24 Mar 08
It was wonderful except the first school I went in UK. I studied in a boarding school and I was bullied by some girls in my class - on my first school day during break! At that time, I only knew a little English, I was unalbe to express myself to anyone and I was too afraid to do so. Everytime I called home, I had my tears swallowed. I didn't want my family member to get worry and I kept it for two years til I changed to another school - this part in fact is the wrose day of my life...
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
24 Mar 08
I spent every day from my very first day of 9th grade until the day I dropped out of 12th grade waiting for that part of my life to be over.
I was in such a hurry to grow up I don't even remember what it was like to b a child.
I'd never wish to go back and do it over again but I'm making sure my kids get to be kids their time around.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
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24 Mar 08
I was like that too. Couldn't wait for it to be over. I am so pleased that you are making sure that your children are making the most of their childhood. My daughter has done too. But going back - no. I once go a letter saying that an old teacher of mine was retiring and did I want to send him something. Why he didn't like the headstone I sent I'll never know. It was blooming expensive. Ungrateful wretch.
@reejane (293)
• Philippines
24 Mar 08
Oh yeah! You learned a lot, you gained a lot of friends and the best part is you don't have to work to have your own allowance...hehehe. Just kidding.
Schooldays develop your social skills and how you interact with people. Sort of a preparation when you start to work.
I missed schooldays, all you have to worry is to pass the exams and graduate.
@jonirei (116)
• Philippines
24 Mar 08
for now it is.i love school days.i have lot of memories and experiences.especially highschool days!its really the best!^_^
@graceandowen (1637)
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24 Mar 08
Oh yes in a flash i would go back to school things were so easy then, even tho at the time i thought life was hard i soon realised that growing up is a lot harder and i miss hte carfree school days.
