Weldon E Howitt High School - Hi Life Yearbook (Farmingdale, NY)

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A secretive Jim MacCallum has Arty Sohikian’s ear during free time on a bench in the Com- mons. A sunny day brightens up an aquain- t a n c e be- tween Kenny Ryan and Kathleen McGuckin. Coming Out 11

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Corning Out One With Many Try to picture what you were like in the ninth grade and the groups with which you were in- volved. Now look at yourself and your friends. People change; let’s face it. It's a good thing they do. Barbara Gilloon, senior, comment- ed. I remember how in ninth grade when my friends and I want- ed to get dressed up, we said. “Let's all wear a skirt on Friday.' Back then you couldn’t do any- thing without the approval of your peers. It was so silly how we were all such conformists! Slowly, though, we shed these security cliques, and friends with common interests became drawn together. In junior high school, everyone felt they had to conform to be accepted, but in high school, I was accepted for what and who I was. not for what people expected of me. explained Liz Follett, sen- ior. Playcrafters rehearsing on a Saturday afternoon, football play- ers getting psyched for a big game together, or friends proudly dis- playing their new set of wheels somehow capture this type of friendship. Playcrafters are like a family. Sure, there are some argu- ments, but we don't have to put on false airs to please anyone. We respect and love each other be cause we share such a closeness. Steve Guarino, senior, said. This feeling of being able to be your own person became more evident in the high school years. John Leddy. senior, seemed to say it best by saying, Your friends make you feel more comfortable so you can be yourself.” Jay Nachbar and Annette Polaski ex- change a warm hello upon meeting be- tween classes. An amusing story is shared by Tyrone Holland. Jeanette Rose. Denise King. Cynthia Jeffers. Ronny Franklin, and Darryl Holland over lunch. A warm windowsill houses resting Play crafters on a Saturday afternoon while they provide an audience for Steve Guar ino. 10 Coming Out

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Corning Out When You Are Enough If a man does not keep pace with his companions, maybe he is weird, stated John Tirico, freshman. The Junior High School Hangover had not yet warn off. Many freshman find it hard to do anything alone. They must always have a group on which to fall back. Through high school, though, there is a growth of character. People enjoy groups and so- cializing but also find a compan- ion in themselves. Janine Conlin, senior, commented, I find that in the last three years I have be- gun to depend less and less on other people and can finally feel comfortable doing things by my- self. I used to feel the need to always be with someone, but now that need no longer exists. A peek into the Math Office can find a student ardently work- ing on the computer in a math ematical world all his own. If you've ever taken a walk through the woods, you are like ly to pass a runner totally obliv- ious to your presence. When I'm running, it's like the whole world doesn't exist. It’s just me all alone. Bob Monahan, senior, stated. A change comes over the indi- vidual both inwardly and out- wardly. During the high school years, the student perfects his outside appearance to convey what he. the individual, is all about. The way one dresses, wears one’s hair or does one's make-up all contribute to the in- dividual statement. Rob Fer- rigno, senior, remembers, God, I remember in junior high school how if you dared to wear some- thing different, you were made fun of. Now people use their dress to make statements about themselves, and people respect them for it. I think high school brings with it a certain amount of maturity which allows you to be yourself and not be ostracized for it. As most students have discov- ered in high school, great strides are made toward finding oneself. 12 Coming Out