Like many others have posted already, grade school is not a pleasant memory for me.
Back when I went to school, it was 1-6, 7-9 and 10-12.
When I went from grade 6 to 7, it changed, and became 1-5, 6-8 and 9-12.
Anyway, grades 1-6 were okay, I suppose. My mom started studying before I started school, but was not fully entrenched until... well, I guess the 2nd grade has some 'horror memories' attached to it. (No Valentine's Day).
Middle School - I basically disappeared. I found the school library, and where to go in it to become invisible at lunch time, when the other kiddos were socializing. I was pretty much a mis-fit, and a nerd. I didn't get beat up, but came close several times from some of the show-off kids.
I did well in class, got A's, and a few B's. Teachers were always trying to get me to look towards college - which I knew was going to be an impossibility.
In High School, I transferred half-way through to a different school in the same district, so no one knew me. 11th grade. Other JWs? There were a few. In fact, there was a group of them that sat together at lunch time. I joined them when I felt welcome. I usually felt out of place, though - even with them.
My ex-wife also went to this high school. I never saw her, and she never saw me. She commented on it years later when we were married, and I told her that I just knew the places to hid out at.
We were required to take physical education - or at least I was in the 11th grade. I hated that. I had to change clothes and wear these shorts and a t-shirt. I was nerd enough as it was, but was even more so during P.E. They played sports during this hour of activity, but it was usually volleyball or something that I was no good at (name a sport - and I'm no good at it).
I finally got tired of just standing there as they went past me in turn rotation, which meant that I basically did not ever get to play, so I asked the coach if I could run the track that they had there at the high school. I didn't have to compete with anyone - except myself. The coach said I could, so that is what I did during P.E. I actually got really good at it, and enjoyed it.
I was not allowed to join any clubs, take band, play football or any other sport (a coach approached me and asked me if I wanted to be on the basketball team - I had to tell him 'no'.)
No proms or other dances.
I was not allowed to 'walk across the stage' at graduation - and had to get my diploma afterwards by going to the main office.
I could accept no 'honors' - I would have gotten one on seniors' honors night, had I gone.
No dating. No girlfriends. Nothing.
Of course, it didn't help that I was such an awkward teenager.
Yeah. Grade school is a painful memory.
But... I'm okay now... <twitch> <twitch>
Regards,
Jim TX