School Days at Hillcrest Elementary

The last Elementary School I attended was Hillcrest located at 651 East 1400 South just across the street from where I lived. Now how much closer to home could I get? My teachers there were Mr. Summers and Mr. Willis. Mr. Summers was a very good artist and painted large pictures that covered walls in the hallway announcing events such as “Parent-Teacher Nights” or school Halloween Parties. I remember some assemblies held in the lunch room, particularly at Christmas time. You remember because it seems like every school had them too. I was one of those three wise men dressed in bathrobes who acted more like three wise guys than three wise men. Every recess was taken up with everyone playing our form of soccer on the asphalt parking lot. There was very little grass at that time and we even held our spring field day on the rock strewn dirt area north of the building. I remember because I ran barefoot there to win the 50 yard dash surprising my arch rivals and consummate jocks, Robert Heaps and Gary Weight. I’ll never forgive Mike Jones for suckering me into trading him my pocket watch for an old grease gun he brought from his Dad’s garage.

School Days at Westmore Elementary

The next year I was transferred to the next newest school in Orem, Westmore Elementary, located at 1150 South Main Street. My teacher was Mrs. Wentz and I got along with her well even though she was quite strict. I remember a show-and-tell following Christmas that year because I only took a flashlight to class and was embarrassed to compare it with some Christmas gifts my classmates brought. Mrs. Maybe was my teacher the next year. I remember her fainting on the play ground one day and receiving a head injury that kept her out of school for a few days. That particular school had a round class room on the east side of the school that really seemed to be more open and light than other class rooms there. I wished that I had the chance to be in the class room.

School Days at Geneva Elementary

Geneva Elementary School

After the Geneva Elementary School was built on 400 North, I attended there for a year. There were over 600 students there at that time and although the numbers have fluctuated some, they remain about the same in 2010. I don’t remember my teacher’s name but I do remember the cutest girl in my class whose name was Karen. Yes, even at an early age, I began to recognize that boys and girls were different. Girls were better looking and smelled a lot better. Maybe they smelled better because they didn’t play as hard during recess. Or maybe it was because their Mother’s made them bathe more frequently than a boy’s Mother did. Anyway that was a something new to me coming from a family of boys with no sisters.

Growing up in Orem, Utah - School Days

The suggested questions to answer in writing one's personal history published yesterday are:

Phase 3 - School Days

Information about school days:

1. What was school like when the person was younger?

2. What was the person's favorite subject?

3. What did the person want to be when he or she grew up?

4. Are there any funny school-related stories to share?

5. Who were the person's favorite classmates?

6. What school(s) did the person attend?

Here is an example of what I wrote about my school days in Orem, Utah:

Growing up in Orem, Utah

School Days - Spencer School:

Attending school in the 1950s and 1960s in Orem, Utah gradually changed as new elementary schools were built closer to home. When I started, I first briefly attended the Spencer School, located on the south east corner of State Street and 800 South.

It was built in 1912 and was a two-story eight-room school building and was used both for grade school and high school classes until the Lincoln High School was built across the street in 1921. The thing I remember about that school was the wide stairs and the hardwood floors that creaked as I walked down the hall. The Spencer School was torn down in 1991.

Outline for writing a life story

Many people would like to write their autobiography or personal life story. Here is an outline that I have found helpful. I will use it to structure my story about growing up in Orem, Utah in future postings. I hope you find it helpful.

Phase 1 - Family History

Gather and write down basic information and family history:

1. What is person's name including nick names?

2. Where and when was he or she born?

3. What are the names of person's parents and siblings?

4. Is the person the oldest, the youngest, or middle child?

5. Where did the person's family come from?

6. What is unique or special about the person's or family's background?

Phase 2 - Childhood

Information about childhood:

1. What was life like for the person as a child?

2. Where did the person live as a child?

3. Does the person have any special childhood memories? What are they?

4. Did the person ever get into mischief as a child?

5. Who were the important people in the person's life, as a child?

6. What interests and talents did the person have early on?

Phase 3 - School Days

Information about school days:

1. What was school like when the person was younger?

2. What was the person's favorite subject?

3. What did the person want to be when he or she grew up?

4. Are there any funny school-related stories to share?

5. Who were the person's favorite classmates?

6. What school(s) did the person attend?

Phase 4 - Interests and hobblies

Showcase the person's interests.

1. What interests did the person have?

2. Did the person collect anything?

3. What extracurricular activities did the person participate in?

4. What responsibilities did the person have at home or in the community?

5. What books did the person read?

6. What did the person enjoy doing in his or her younger years?

Phase 5 - Young adult experiences

Share experiences at college, in the military or religious service, Sports, etc.

1. When did the person first leave home?

2. What goals did he or she pursue at this time?

3. How did the person decide which path to pursue?

4. What were some of the challenges he or she faced?

5. What were some of the triumphs that he or she experienced?

6. How did the person serve others at this time?

Phase 6 - Friends and family

Tell about any of the special people that shaped the person's life.

1. When did the person fall in love?

2. What was the courtship, engagement, and/or wedding like?

3. What was life like for the young couple?

4. When did the person have children? (Give names and birth order of children)

5. What did the person like to do with his or her family?

6. What close friends did the person have at this time?

Phase 7 - Homes, careers, and interests

Emphasize the person's career and person achievements.

1. What special awards or recognition has the person received?

2. What strengths does the person show in the home or work force?

3. What special interests does the person have as an adult?

4. What talents and skills did the person acquire as an adult?

5. Did the person ever change jobs?

6. What are the person's goals as an adult?

Phase 8 - Holidays and vacations

Recall any memorable vaction or holiday stories and traditions.

1. Where is the person's favorite place to visit?

2. What is it like visiting his or her favorite place? How does he or she get there?

3. What holiday traditions carried over from the person's childhood?

4. Has the person had any adventures as an adult?

5. If the person doesn't travel, does he or she have any dreams of traveling?

6. Has the person had any special reunions with family or friends?

Phase 9 - Family life/Fond memories

Emphasize important family accomplishements or aspects of their life.

1. What strengths does the person have as a parent or family member?

2. What does the person enjoy most about being a parent or family member?

3. What does he or she enjoy doing with family and friends?

4. What was life like while raising a family?

5. Is there a funny or special story that occurred during the person's adult years?

6. What are the person's thoughts about being a grandparent?

Phase 10 - Leaving a legacy

Share important advice for loved ones.

1. What has the person learned from his or her life experiences?

2. Is there any advice the person is known for giving?

3. What special phrases does the person say?

4. What advice does the person have for his or her posterity?

5. What kind of legacy has the person created?

About Russ Harward

I majored in Communications in college and developed skills in communicating with people over many years. I have been collecting, editing, writing, and producing family stories for several years in family story books and videos.

My passion is helping people come to know about the lives of their forefathers. Knowing the stories behind the genealogical data helps that data come to life and is far more interesting especially for young people. We have several different ways to preserve our stories today but that was not true many years ago. Then pen and paper was the most available source. Family history was recorded in journals and we are lucky if we have that. Some people only have stories handed down verbally from generation to generation.

Today we have so many ways to preserve and share our stories that the technology can become intimidating to the older generation among us. I say that because "old" is relative and I have a lot of old relatives. Being a "babyboomer" puts me in the "old" category or at least that is what my children tell me. The older I get the more I see the value of preserving life's experiences in story form. I treasure the writings, pictures, recordings, and especially home movies bringing back memories of those no longer with us.

The best case scenario is to bring those media together into one. For now that is on a DVD. I will share some ideas about how to share our stories in future postings along with examples.