Let it burn!
By ElicBxn
@ElicBxn (63638)
United States
March 5, 2018 4:23pm CST
Alright, no, lets not...
I have lived in Austin since I was nearly 2 years old. While I was in school we really only lived in 2 houses.
However, I went to 3 elementary schools - a private first because my birthday was so late in the year that I wouldn't have been in the same grade as my neighborhood friends. We moved when I was going into 5th grade.
Back then elementary school was 1-6 grades. Junior high, middle school they call it now, was 7-9. I went to 2 because they opened a new school for my 9th grade year.
Then I went to 2 high schools.
Now, I was bullied all through school, but worst after we moved. Before I was one of the youngest in my grade, but at the new school I was the youngest. Then it got worst in 7th through 9th grade. By the time I was going into 10th grade, at the much larger high school, I was really depressed.
I asked my parents if I could go to the Catholic high school that my brother had started going to.
4 weeks in, I transferred.
Holy Cross, the name of the school, was a vast improvement to the public school. For one thing, there were only about 350 kids in the whole school (that's about the size of my graduating class at the public school that I went back in for my senior year.) Bullying wasn't nearly as tolerated by the Sisters.
I also had decided that it was change or die, so I worked really hard to change.
I kid you not, that was, and is, the hardest thing I have ever done.
Now, I'm not going to say that I loved going to school, but I had no choice, and I was far more happy at Holy Cross than I was since I had left that first elementary school.
So, flash forward to Saturday, March 3rd, 2018...
http://kxan.com/2018/03/03/afd-battling-second-alarm-fire-at-central-austin-abandoned-building/
6 people like this
8 responses
@BarBaraPrz (47611)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
5 Mar 18
So, which school was it? And did you set the fire? 
3 people like this
@ElicBxn (63638)
• United States
6 Mar 18
Back in the early 1990's the class of '72 had a whole school reunion, that would be the classes of '69 to '73. On the whole, the classes of '70, '71 and '72 were the major attenders, even though most of us, except the class of '70, hadn't graduated from Holy Cross at all. At that time, the building was owned and run by an private elementary school. They allowed us to actually enter the school building on Saturday night and picnic on the grounds on Saturday during the day. I have to say, it was lovely to go back, even though the building had, some how, shrunk in the 20 years since we'd been in it.
2 people like this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
6 Mar 18
@ElicBxn you must have many fond memories in the school. So sorry for your loss.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (181942)
• United States
6 Mar 18
I am glad you found one school you liked!
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63638)
• United States
6 Mar 18
It was a relief, and allowed me to returned to public school both more mature, remember, I was younger than nearly everybody in my grade - by over a year in some cases, and able to see an end in sight.
While I was at Holy Cross, religion class was required. Because I was the only Junior in the Latin class, and the Latin class was during the Junior religion class, I ended up in the Sophomore's religion class. The teacher that first day of class asked how many of us were 16. Half the class raised their hands. He proceeded up until the first of November. By that time, over 3/4 of the class had their hands up. Guess who was still 15? The gal in front of me was also still 15, but turned 16 about a week before I did.
And, remember, I was actually in the grade ahead of these kids...
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
6 Mar 18
I gather this was Holy Cross? The article doesn't say. At least the memories have stayed with you.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (68884)
• United States
6 Mar 18
It's funny in a way: like you, I was bullied throughout my school years, save for one school in Daytona Beach, which were the best two years of my school life. And which school isn't standing? That's right, the one where I had the best time. They tore it down in the 80s to build a concert arena. 
As for bullying, I've realized that I have received my revenge in spades on those who bullied me by having a great, blessed life.
As for bullying, I've realized that I have received my revenge in spades on those who bullied me by having a great, blessed life.2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63638)
• United States
6 Mar 18
They are keeping the main building, the Perry Mansion, and turning into a boutique hotel. Part of the reason they were going to tear down the old school buildings, the ones that burned, was to be part of this.
https://www.mystatesman.com/business/exclusive-historic-austin-estate-become-boutique-hotel/Cu6IQ1Y2bILf7sw5kAxQlL/
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63638)
• United States
6 Mar 18
I was. I did sort of determine to endure that last year back in the public school, because I could see the end in sight. Because so many of us left Holy Cross to go back to public schools that last year, we have reunions even though we graduated from some other school. I have far more fondness and go to reunions for Holy Cross before I'll go to the school I actually graduated from. In fact, for my 40th reunion, the 2 schools held them on the same weekend - guess which one I went to?
2 people like this
@dnatureofdtrain (5273)
• Janesville, Wisconsin
11 Mar 18
I had it rough in kindergarten and gradeschool.. then middle school improved some.. then high school by then we matured and rarely bullied each other.. but i was in physical fights daily... so i know the feeling.. Bullying and harassment is a serious issues and even worse when like in my case teachers and supervisors were setting students up or instigating the issue... i want to go to a Catholic school my sister went to but they did not let me.. but highschool worked out very well for me.. Middle school was strange i went from no one wanted anything to do with, to suddenly being a major leader... i would not say the school itself was that good in most ways it was in some... but it was really creepy stuff going on... a lot of teachers kept quitting... we students took charge of many things and the harassment bullying and crime fell to nearly nothing... teachers left us unsupervised a lot ... by then ,,it is hard to build that atmosphere of respect.. but that is what needs to be done built respect..
1 person likes this
@dnatureofdtrain (5273)
• Janesville, Wisconsin
13 Mar 18
@ElicBxn yeah it was an odd situation and not suppose to be like that most of them so happened to retire when i graduated.. i was like yay so no more students have to put up with that...
1 person likes this
