In September 1998, there was no need to rouse Brianna from bed - it was her first day of school! She was off to meet new friends (as the new girl who had just moved to Calgary). She'd already been marked as a reader by her kindergarten teacher, although she had a propensity for falling a sleep in the beanbag chairs during free reading time. She revered her teachers, dutifully dived into her homework and became the kind of quiet, polite child that teachers enjoy having in their classroom.
Years pass. A change of neighborhoods brings a new elementary school and a new gaggle of friends. Banff Trail School is a short 200 m toddle up the alleyway (sometimes at a full run when she gets up late), and she adapts and fits in.
Junior high at Branton Jr. High School starts to bring out some of Brianna's unique qualities. Drama becomes important to her, and Mrs. Walker becomes a role model. Clown shoes, unicycles and green hair become signs of her individuality.
Next comes high school. William Aberhart High brought more new friends, awakening freedom as a new woman comes into her life in the guise of an evil step mom (and soon-to-be partner in crime). Brianna's individuality continues to blossom, no matter what her parents do to prevent it. Homework, teenage angst, good and bad choices and lots of learning (academic and other types) defines Brianna's life at this point.
Then comes this morning. A deeply sleeping 18-year-old is awoken to the strains of Also Sprach Zarathustra, heralding in the start of her last ... day ... of ... high school ... EVER!
At the end of the day (noon, thanks to two luckily-occurring spare classes) , a quiet celebratory lunch with Dad at the local Chinese food buffet rounded out her belly, as well as her grade school experience.
Does she look sad and tentative about being thrust out into the world?
Years pass. A change of neighborhoods brings a new elementary school and a new gaggle of friends. Banff Trail School is a short 200 m toddle up the alleyway (sometimes at a full run when she gets up late), and she adapts and fits in.
Junior high at Branton Jr. High School starts to bring out some of Brianna's unique qualities. Drama becomes important to her, and Mrs. Walker becomes a role model. Clown shoes, unicycles and green hair become signs of her individuality.
Next comes high school. William Aberhart High brought more new friends, awakening freedom as a new woman comes into her life in the guise of an evil step mom (and soon-to-be partner in crime). Brianna's individuality continues to blossom, no matter what her parents do to prevent it. Homework, teenage angst, good and bad choices and lots of learning (academic and other types) defines Brianna's life at this point.
Then comes this morning. A deeply sleeping 18-year-old is awoken to the strains of Also Sprach Zarathustra, heralding in the start of her last ... day ... of ... high school ... EVER!
At the end of the day (noon, thanks to two luckily-occurring spare classes) , a quiet celebratory lunch with Dad at the local Chinese food buffet rounded out her belly, as well as her grade school experience.
Does she look sad and tentative about being thrust out into the world?
.. and this blogger thanks the subject matter expert for filling in the bits I could not know!
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