A phrase we all know, and especially love at this time of year.

For everything about school - past, present, good, very bad.

Last night I saw a poor quality 15 minute home video of the "leavers" last day of secondary school for the year below me, so from a year after I left. I recognised some of the people in it, but seeing the inside of the school again after all these years gave me the willies to say the least. But I couldn't stop watching it. I ended up feeling quite drained afterwards and couldn't stop thinking about school - many regrets about what could have been done better, but some of the occasional nicer times too.

My school days weren't terrible; I had a lot of anxiety and often didn't like being there, but I had some decent moments too and I have days where I wish I could go back and do it again - but in a different way. At the same time I absolutely never want to go back. I haven't stayed in touch with any of my school friends - one has died, the one who I was last in touch with - so I have little connection these days. I'm sure I'll get over it - when I too have died.

School gives me nightmares.

My skool daze were a right royal mess.

Tumultuous is the word.

Nightjar wrote:

My skool daze were a right royal mess.

You had to bounce the sling shot off Mr.Withit to get the final shield.

I hated school, and I kept making friends with rotten people who used the fact that they were my only friends to manipulate me. Hopefully a lot of them died of COVID.

Anyway, I had it worst.

So there.

I'm still feeling weird about school, 24 hours later. I wonder if it'll ever escape me, or if I'll ever escape school.

Thanks to this thread I had an appalling nightmare last night about fighting with someone who was my main antagonist when I was 11.

I loved it until I was 12 - or 11 actually, which is when I left primary school. It was fine again for the last year or two. I can’t say I enjoyed the bit in the middle very much. From 11-15 or so I was surrounded by utter ****s.

I did find out a few years ago that one of my friends from those years had died, a few years after becoming a grandmother. I’m not sure which part of that shocked me more. She was a sweet girl, who should’ve had a better life.

I was thrilled to discover a boy I hated is serving time for murder. That was ever a matter of time, and now he’s safely off the streets. He told the headteacher that I had reduced him to tears, and I had to scrub the floors…

I mean, if he hadn’t been such a violent, sexually assaulting, ignorant, ugly boy, I wouldn’t have had to finally snap in front of everyone and mock his dreadful curtain hairstyle or continue from there. Not my fault he reacted badly.

Quote :

but I had some decent moments too and I have days where I wish I could go back and do it again

I remember looking back through my 1987 diary and being surprised by how much fun I seemed to be having in 6th form, indulging in teasing and banter. The sun always shone and soon I could begin having driving lessons.

Ooh, I just caught a whiff of phantom Marlboro smoke and decayed floorboards from the 6th form clubhouse.

Fangirl Three wrote:

Thanks to this thread I had an appalling nightmare last night about fighting with someone who was my main antagonist when I was 11.

I sort of apologise. I too have had a dream about school again in the last couple of days.

But the good news is after my more than 24hours of being in a state of weirdness, mild anxiety yet almost grieving about school I'm feeling better and my thoughts are stable once again.

cosmictanya wrote:

I did find out a few years ago that one of my friends from those years had died, a few years after becoming a grandmother. I’m not sure which part of that shocked me more.

It probably shouldn't have, but this bit made me laugh.