Fish Out of Water...

I was flattered to have my college English class anecdote to be included in the Student Tutor Blog written by Dressler Parsons.

Since that interview, I now recall a H.S. incident that would have worked better.

No one wants to be a standout for the wrong reasons in High School, especially after transferring into a new H.S. as a sophomore.

P.E. was still a required class for all students with one exception. If you were on a H.S. athletic team, your team's daily practice counted as your "P.E" requirement.

Since I was on the swim team for my previous school, I signed up for the swim team at my new school.

The first week, I showed up at the pool every day after school for practice. The Monday after the first week, the coach intercepted me before I got in the water.

He told me he was notified by the school office that I wasn't enrolled for the swim team but was, instead, enrolled in last period general P.E. Until they got the paperwork straightened out, I would have to report for regular P.E. starting today.

At this point, I should point out that since I believed I WAS on the swim team, I didn't sign out any P.E. clothes at the beginning of school. When I pointed this out, the coach said he couldn't help.  

"You'll have to sort it out with the P.E. instructor."

So..I walk out to the field where "my P.E. class" is doing drills, hopefully to get a pass for at least today. No such luck. The P.E. instructor made me do all the drills barefoot and almost totally naked wearing only my red, white and blue Speedo.

Talk about first impressions at a new school.