Lanier High School - Viking Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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Betsy Smith DeeAnn Smith Gene Smith Holly Smith Stephenie Spiars Ann Stanfield Randy Stenson Sharon Stephenson Brian Steves L S fel' 1 Celeste Stewart Hayden Stewart Donna Storey 4' X 5 Pam Stovall Dianna Stratton Gary Sullivan Arthur Sweet Jeffrey Swindall Johnny Swindall 56 new experiencesfseniors 1 1 We got involved in the high school traditions. Kieth Mendeke, Greg John- son, Rene Jennings, Kay Kirby, Paul Reinert, and Diana Wheeler formed the senior Homecoming court inthe senior decorated gym. 2 Competing in high school level was new to most of us Freshman Stacy Plluger adapted quickly and played varsity calibre volleyball. 3 We became more aware and proud ol our heritage. Cathy Ftoundtree and Gertha Phillips sing the Black National Anthem at a Social Studies class assembly given by the Afro American Players during Black Heritage Week.

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it Ft i it ng... It 4 Ann Chambers and Vicki Gilmore knew they looked silly. They also knew their initiation into Vikettes meant three more years of hard, rewarding dance They did not mind. 5 We looked into the world around us in science Charles l-lill examines flowers under a micro- scope tor the first time. - J .Els tr 5 J 9 ? . i f M if if 'ei f l . 2 9 M, , Q, IGrowing and Learning e wege growing, learning as we grew. Our minds and bodies were maturing at a faster rate and we became aware of ourselves in a new light. We were adults to be. We started to feel and act the part. Our horizons were expanding. Just beginning to grasp who we were, we ventured out to new things and experimented with different interests that appealed to us. Ve: pursued hobbies for ourselves, setting our own goals. Our entertainment program broadened. We were old enough to drive, to hang out and to date. When we started to date, many of our previously stable morals were threatened by the new generation way of thinking. We learned to choose what was best for us. Classes had a new look. We took a personal interest in the curriculum. Some of us went on to advanced Algebra, Trig, and chemistry, enjoying the challenging analysis and formula figuring. A few concentrated on the arts. spending time on Concertos. choruses and crafts. We were setting our goals higher and, as our capabilities grew, we were achieving them. When we did fail, we could bounce back, and chalk everything up to experience. We benefited from every situation. Staying up all night cramming for our hardest exam and then failing it by 6 points was so exasperating. But we learned to accept it, and to start earlier next time. When we did our best and succeeded, like losing the extra 10 pounds and keeping it off, meeting a publication deadline or being accepted to college, we experienced the greatest feeling. Our duties and responsibilities grew as we grew. Commitments were made to be kept. We were getting jobs, handling our own tinances, and accepting what lite was handing to us. We were getting a taste of independence. So many things were happening in the world it was hard not to be caught up in it all. Being so near the voting age, we perked up when new experiences 55

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In New Rela tionsh someone mentioned politics. Eighteen year olds took stands for chosen candidates. Questions about ERA, draft dodger pardons, abortion, and city annexing unsettled our views. As we changed, we learned more about ourselves. Our views were no longer our parents, they were our own. Sometimes it was hard tor mom and dad to let go, or admit we were growing up. But time couIdn't be denied. We understood our parents' needs and feelings, and insisted that they honor ours. We learned to compromise. When we gave a little, they gave a little, and life ran much smoother. We promised to be home on time and they promised not to tell us who to date. We agreed to pay tor gas and they agreed to let us have the car to go to our new job. Friends were made tor the keeping. They encouraged us to grow and strengthened our personalities, When they shared our views and interests, we had common bonds. They gave us perspective on , l 4 Encounter sessions in Ms. Cooke's psychol- ogy classes helped us to relate to each other in new ways, Mike Nolan relaxes and trusts his classmates to lift him like a baby and rock him. 5 We realized the importance of our environ- ment and took a conscious effort by joining and supporting clubs like the Ecology Club. Here, Patti Rennscheidt buys a litter bag from Ecology ' club member Debbie Rogers. l li ips E ourselves, served as a firm hand when we started to stray, and lent us shoulders to cry on when times were trying. They cared for us as equals. We felt the pains and thrills of being in love at new depths. We really cared for our special someone. It was so easy to become attached and lost in our emotions. We were sexually aware and had big decisions to make. Which directions would our relationship go in? We fought to keep controlg not to let feelings overwhelm us and misguide us. But we also accepted the emotions as naturalg not something to be ashamed of, Involved relationships started patterns our whole lite would follow. Our reactions, decisions, and feelings all aided our growth. We learned from everything. We were getting stronger. Strong enough to take on anything the world outside could give us. new experiences 57