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

Page 9 text:

the Odyssey Continues

Page 8 text:

One clay, a passer-by noticed some new construction being done by three masons. He paused near the first worker and asked him what he was doing. He replied with a smile, I ' m earning $14.95 an hour. The pedestrian walked a few steps and asked the next mason the same question. This man answered simply, I ' m building a wall, and turned back to his work. The curious passery-by approached the third mason and asked him what he was doing. With an enthusiastic grin, the third mason said, I ' m building a school! Dr. Youngblood focused on this illustration in his address to the class of 1 986 on Friday, August 23, 1 985. He challenged us to see beyond the bricks, the wall, and the immediate rewards of sacrifices involved. He encouraged us to keep the vision of building a school; he asked us to make this vision real by helping the incoming junior class and supporting all the programs that are a part of NCSSM. One new adventurous program is XL. The students in XL study independently with less structure and concentrate on an area of personal interest. If the experiment is successful, more students will be offered the opportunity in the future. We are grateful to various faculty and Borden Mace for all the work and time they have invested in this project. We are also involved in an athletic adventure. NCSSM has a new athletic coordinator, Kim Frierson, and is now, for the first L r L time, a member of a conference, the Capital 2A. Our athletes have risen admirably to the new challenge. The girls ' tennis, girls ' cross-country, and the boys ' soccer teams established NCSSM records for winning seasons; the boys ' soccer team ad- vanced to the Final Eight in the state playoffs. Other projects are becoming reality around NCSSM. We are in the process of expanding our capacity to six hundred students, a new dorm is taking shape behind Hill and Wyche, and the 1 908 building is being renovated to accommodate the departments of mathematics, arts, and some administrative offices. Even though this growth is exciting, it has not occurred without some pains. Many students had to take circuitous routes to avoid construction areas. The Ground Reynolds breezeway, the 1908 area, the pathway from First Reynolds breezeway to Hill, and the new dorm were off-limits for most of the year. Students had to go up in order to go down or vice versa. These changes are only the first few on the list. We could goon to include the Student Council, the Residential Life program, the switch to the University of North Carolina system, and many more. Despite all the changes and hardships along the way, the NCSSM family is still alive. We still are . . . and that has made all the difference. Melissa Kirkland 4

Page 10 text:

Seniors We seniors — the class of 1 986 — have survived two years amidst much change and growth at NCSSM. We have witnessed the destruction and birth of buildings, programs, and ideas; within ourselves, we have watched the fires of life and knowledge reshape and temper our souls. Wecameto NCSSM with indi- vidual ideas, values, and per- spectives, coupled with some apprehension. Throughout our two years, many of our ideas have been altered by new ways of thinking, a mercurial environ- ment, and the friendships we have cultivated. We have ob- served changes in our families and friends; their changes have opened our eyes to realities of life and possibilities of the future. Our initial apprehension has turned to hope. We have worked hard build- ing our school. We leave NCSSM more developed and re- fined. We have written on the cornerstones a chronicle of our two years; our actions have strengthened the future of NCSSM. Each of us has our own place here — our own brick perhaps. It rests in the memories of the people our lives have touched, and will remain here long after our departure. We had the ability to create an entire school, but without the foundation of teachers, adminis- trators, family, and friends, our lives and NCSSM would have collapsed. To these people, we express our love and gratitude. 6 wt