North Carolina School of Science and Math - Odyssey Yearbook (Durham, NC)

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Reflections Our senior year — this is the year that marks the transition from high school to college, from childhood to independence. The year of graduation, a turning point in our lives, is always special, but being at NCSSM and being its first graduating class has made our senior year so much more special. We were the lucky ones, who were just of the right age when the North Carolina School of Science and Math came along. Some of us knew immediately we wanted to be a part of this venture; some of us hesitated, not quite sure we were ready to leave family and friends for a new environment that would hold many surprises. With curiosity and visions, we arrived in the fall of 1980, as members of the first class of NCSSM. That first year holds so many memories for us. At first we were a bit shy, for we knew no one, but friendships sprang up quickly and naturally. We smile as we recall Orientation Week, the ceiling falling in Director Eilber ' s office, and P.D.A. being banned. Exciting things were constantly happening, and everything we did made history. We loved being a part of it all; we loved being pioneers” and risk-takers in the new living learning experiment even if we got tired of hearing these phrases at times. 20

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But along with the good times were problems. We missed our families and friends, and, of course, “real food. We quickly felt overworked, and wondered how we had gotten two months behind after only two weeks. We complained about cold showers and sign-in cards. At times the closeness got irritating, for we found out that all secrets traveled down the grapevine very quickly. Summer approached and we could not wait to “eat and sleep! But inside we did not want it to end, for we knew it would mean our NCSSM experience was half over. After three months apart, we came back in the fall as SENIORS!! It felt sort of funny, to be “big seniors, to be actually going through that magical year. We greeted each other with hugs and smiles, but found ourselves being observed by alien creatures — juniors. We instantly accepted them, eager to play big brother big sister. During our senior year there were many other changes at the school. The “cafe was remodeled, we had a game room, and there were even books in the library. We got used to seeing unknown faces and quit introducing ourselves. With a twinge of sadness, we realized that the school had grown larger, and that we would have to work much harder to achieve the closeness that existed when we were all in one class. 22