Greenville High School - Hi Life Yearbook (Greenville, MI)

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Differing backgrounds, experiences provide interesting combination at GH did not come through a student exchange program as Anna did. Julia’s mother came to Greenville and stayed with the Sorenson family as an exchange student some twenty-three years ago, and she had always wanted Julia to do the same. Julia Klussendorf Although the girls see many similarities between American customs and those of their homelands, there are still some vast differences that they had to adjust to. Adjusting to the language was the hardest. After learning British English in school they soon discovered American English to be very different, and they agree that American slang is worst of all. They both feel that the school systems are almost completely different. In both countries everyday they have a different schedule, somewhat like the colleges and universities, one day you might go to school for 3 hours and others you might go 8 hours depending on your classes for that particular day. They both seemed to have adapted to the American way of life and the American food but Julia finds it hard to believe that Americans actually like to eat white bread. Julia and Anna also feel that the social activities and dating customs are similar, except that they usually walk to where ever they intend to go for the evening. As to what time they are to be in each night; Julia says her curfew is the same here as it is in Germany. Anna says that as long as her folks knew where she was it didn’t matter what time she got in, but while she was staying in Greenville she had to be home between 12:00-1:00a.m. Anna and Julia enjoyed going to school at GHS where they both were enrolled as Seniors. While enjoying all that there is to learn from a year in a strange country, these students also came with much to share. It’s Friday night, the air is still, and voices can be heard inside of Greenville High. All of a sudden the doors are flung open. People come pouring out of the entrances. Green- A City Life Convenience in abundance ville’s spirit is high after witnessing the triumph of Boy’s Varsity Basketball game over Lake view. The streets are full tonight as teenagers cruise up and down Laya-fette shouting to friends about the victory. French Fries are being munched hungrily while others are putting away pizza, and concentrating on video games, but there is always work behind all these places and activities which all of us enjoy. The majority of businesses in Greenville have teenage employees and most of these people have found the advantages and disadvantages of living in town. Junior Dan Dempsey finds he not only saves gas money by living in town, in commuting to work, but he also says, “I’m able to walk to stores to buy things and it doesn’t cost as much because I don’t have to pay for gas.” Dempsey says another advantage to living in town is “I don’t have to ride the bus or have people pick me up too frequently. I can easily walk where I want to go, within a short distance of course.” But as the old saying goes To gain something is to give up something.’ Senior Jerry Remelts, who works for Ceasar’s Pizza, dislikes the crowdedness of town, but he enjoys living in town because he’s so near work and local activities. Dempsey also recalls a few disadvantages to living in town, “There’s a lot of burglaries. Like if you leave your bike on the porch most likely it’ll be gone the next morning.” He also stated “There’s more noise in town. Especially if you live on a busy street.” Even though living in town has its advantages, like being easier to commute to work or saving gas, there are also the disadvantages, such as noise and being crowded, but I think you’d all agree when Dempsey says, “There’s no place like town business.” Junior Dan Dempsey spent part of the year llvlnq in town. One of the more obvious advantages of doing so is being able to walk to school. 5

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Student Life Leisure activities varied Lifestyles: From other lands Vast differences require adjusting It’s 2:20 Friday, and the school bell is ringing. Students of Greenville High School make mad dashes to their cars and busses. After 2:20 is the time when students try to forget school and their studies and jump into the social aspect of life. From soap operas to fixing cars, dates or just going out with friends, student life outside Greenville High School is both interesting and exciting. Going to, and participating in sporting events is one of the most popular past-times of GHS students. Sports take up a lot of time. Many hours are spent getting ready for the “big game” in both aspects. Of course, when there are no sporting events, GHS students find other alternatives to be included in social activities. One of the great hang outs of 1984-85 was Jimbo’s video arcade. There students quickly spent their paychecks and allowances on games and food. After Jimbo’s, there was always Burger King’s parking lot where you could sit and socialize with others about where and when the next party was. Of course, if this routine became boring, there was always the 35 minute drive to Grand Rapids, which opened the doors to shopping trips, assorted movies, elegant dinners, sitting in hot tubs, or just cruising around in cars. With the closing of the Silver Theatre in Greenville for the winter, many students chose to go see “Beverly Hills Cop” and other such movies in Grand Rapids. The fad of the 1984-85 year was to rent a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) and some movies and spend the evening at home with the company of friends. In any case, the students of Greenville High School were having fun. Jimbo’s was a popular place to go day or night. Video games were the major attraction, but being with friends and classmates was the main reason for gathering anywhere. When asked for her impression of American teenagers, Julia Klussen-dorf of Germany said, “all they do is eat Potato Chips, drink Coke, and ride in cars.” Julia and Anna Moller of Sweden are both spending the 1984-85 school year at Greenville Senior High School. They both wanted to come to America to learn the language better, to experience new things, and to meet new people. These two young ladies arrived last summer. They said, “everything seemed strange, even the people.” They feel that Americans are friendlier to strangers than people are to acquaint- ances in their homelands. Anna came through the Ameri-can Scandinavian student exchange program and stayed with the Donald Antcliff family. Julia stayed with the Pete Sorenson family but 4

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A Rural Life Farm students experience demanding life Most students work seasonal or part time jobs, and go to school only part of each year. But those who live on an active farm work additional hours all seasons of the year because of that type of rural lifestyle. Only a few students at GHS center their lifestyle on farming. Senior Doug DeVries has lived and worked on a farm for all his life. He commented that he plans to farm for the rest of his life.” “Its tough and expects alot out of you, but I enjoy the A typical day for a farmer starts early; there is no time to “sleep in”. challenge,” he said. Between Doug’s grandparents farm and the one at home he farms 200 acres plus raises livestock. A typical day for a farmer starts early; there is no time to “sleep in”. On some farms there are fewer things to do than on others but all seasons are full of plenty of work. Doug enjoys the summer most because it brings warm weather and plenty of work in the fields. Tom Carlson another student at GHS dislikes getting up early but on his farm milking cows has to be done. He enjoys springtime because of planting time. Many things are required during the warm weather. Harvesting crops, chopping, bailing and hauling hay have to be done. Many don’t realize how hot it really gets when 50 lb. bales of hay have to picked up in an open field, put on a truck, and then unloaded in a barn and count- ed. Some days it is hard to see with all the dust and hay particles blowing through the air. Doug commented that his allergies really get him down but there is just too much work to be done to stop and let it sit. Mike Schmiedicke (11) has some different outlook on farming than Doug. He has many tasks to perform, as Doug, but many different ones too. He said he does not plan on being a farmer for the rest of his life. Mike does enjoy working with the baby pigs “they’re neat”. Fall brings preparation of the land for the following season and sounds easier than it actually is, depending on the crop you decide to plant. With wheat or rye you have to plow, put fertilizer on the land, then plant the seed. Some farmers however let the land lay idle for the winter. Winter comes along and cutting wood has to be done regularly to keep the house warm. Cleaning animal pens has to be done at least once a month but more often if they need it. This involves pitching the manure on the spreader and spreading it on the fields. Then spreading straw out on the ground inside the barn is necessary. Chris Wilson, (11) deals mostly with horses, cows and goats. Unlike most young farmers, the thing Chris enjoys most of all is cleaning the Cleaning animal pens has to be done at least once a month but more often if they need it. Working with heavy equipment is a necessity of farm ready to start the tractor they have on the Devires life. Of all the equipment on a typical farm, the farm, tractor is probably most essential. Doug Devries gets 6