It's been over 8+ years (October 7, 2003) now since I (Sal)graduated from St. Paul's Harding Senior High School back in 1995! Prior to Harding, I attended Battle Creek Middle-Elementary School I'm now making a webpage dedication to the place that helped me get here where I am now-"life is just full of itty-bitty steps to get you into another step in life".
Still in High School? How is it for you? For me, it was a once of a life-time unforgettable experience (91'-95') that I can't go back and relive again. What I�m trying to saying to the youth is live it to the fullest and use each experience-good or bad-as a preparation season/time for something "better". I was picked on in junior high for my homework and it didn't exist in high school. I thought it was going to be a rougher time in high school, like those movies I saw on t.v. It eventually became a better time (compared to Junior High: racial fights, got suspended, got spat on, etc...-forgive & forget) than I expected.
CLIQUES
What clique are you a part of? Jocks, nerds, sell-outs, etc....If you are in a more multicultural setting, like I was in St. Paul, there are racial cliques-especially back when I was going to school. I would classify the group I hanged-out with the Asian-Hispanic group at my high school, which it came to be a part of when I started to hangout with certain individuals. A friend of mine invited me to join the Asian Club, which met once a week after school. I felt more of a belonging here than any other social group as my identity search became more clear. However, I kind of became more racist towards certain people (see testimony) due to my anger towards others.
I did play various sports, like baseball, soccer, and track; however, I didn't consider myself a jock. It was more of an extracurricular activity to meet other people and "look good" for college. My favorite sport was baseball, which I dreamed of playing in the majors. I played my first 2 years, which I managed to have 1 career hit. It was a line drive to the opposite field for the freshmen team during my sophomore year. I ended-up finding out down the road that I needed glasses, which explained all those strikeouts I made. One play that I made that haunted me for awhile back then was getting an out when I was pinched-running. This occurred during the biggest and closest game that year, which we were facing Cretin-Durham Hall (only private school in the St. Paul Conference, which was the team to beat). I came in to pinch-run for a teammate of mine at first base. I then made it all the way to third base with 2 outs. I lead-off too far from third base and the catcher thew it to the third basemen to tag me out. It was a play I regretted so much that affected my playing ever since. Unfortunately, I wasn't good as I hoped to be, which I gave-up in my junior year as I dropped out before practice began during "Spring-Training". I played soccer my last 2 years, which was more fun and less stressful for myself. Since I finished with baseball, I decided to replace this Spring sport with Track & Field. This was probably my favorite sport of all 3 that I played as it was more of an individual competitive sport, which the team wasn't too dependent on just one person. I ran long-distance, which I ran 8 miles one time during practice-it would be the longest run for me ever. We ran from St. Paul's Lake Phalen to North St. Paul on the Maplewood Gateway Trail and back to our high school. I got a 3rd place ribbon with the men's long-distance team during a 4-man relay race at a Conference meet, which was the only award I won. Looking back, I wished I joined the team earlier on, but the different experiences was part of what made me what I am.
I decided to take I was very studious, as I wasn�t very smart, so I had to put a lot of effort to get the grades. I took the "college-level" classes, like some AP or IB classes (a B is worth 4 points-A since the classes were much tougher) because it was more challenging-my Chemistry class was too challenging (got my only D here) ! I didn't have much time to socialize since I was so focus on doing my homework because I wanted to be able to attend college. Not just any college, but a challenging academic college to make-up the challenge I didn't get back at my high school. Also, I knew my parents couldn't afford to pay my post-secondary schooling, so I wanted to do well enough to get a scholarship-I did at UMM!
Revenge of the Nerds - Trailer
Sell-Out
I felt isolated at times during high school as I wasn't as social as some of my peers. There was this guy I hanged out all the time, which he stood-out amongst everybody. He was very smart, but his academics wasn't his focus as he had other things going on his mind/life. I rode with him to school each day for awhile to avoid taking the bus, but I stopped after getting late all the time that led me to detention one day. As I look back, I don't think he was as blessed as I was-family wise! He didn't get much guidance by any authoritative figure that could relate to him, which explained why he was always running around in the streets. We would cruise around a lot in the streets of St. Paul. At times, we would race other cars in the residential area and the highway. I remember one time, we race this other car and they ended up chasing us. We eventually hid in a driveway with our headlights off in the dark that evening. He invited me to my first drinking party, but I didn't participate in the alcohol part. At the party, I felt really out of placed, which I sat there wondering where I was supposed to be. Later in high school, I decided to hangout with another different crowd-Asian-Hispanic.
MEMORIES
Some high school moments were:
-football team had a winning record, but not good enough to win the City Conference. One of the players was featured in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, which I got him to autograph it. I was honored to work with him at Taco Bell (see pic)!
Some unfortunate incidents:
-3 classmates of mine died my junior year
-someone spiked the punch at a dance that made it to the local news on t.v.
-school shooting that wounded a student, but thank God no death!
DATING SCENE
I really never dated in high school as my peers did, which seem to be overrated. There seem to be a lot of pressure to do so as this was an ongoing topic to this day for me-especially my brother getting married next month (January 2004). There was this girl I liked since junior high, but I won't say her name due to this being a public web site display. I was teased being gay just because I didn't have a girlfriend or I didn't talk dirty with the guys (e.g. she's a hot babe!). I was personally too focus on family issues and my high school activities (academics, sports, job, etc..) to attend a "good college". It would be later down the road in life that I was glad I kept single (see story). However, one event I still regret to this day is missing my prom! Yes, this is an event all high school teenagers shouldn't missed no matter what clique you are in. Who cares what others think (see self-esteem) about you personally?
My Appearance on The Dating Game - 1981
INDIVIDUALISM
I grew my hair long for some reason and a lot of my peers would tell me to cut it off. I think it was some sort of rebellion, which I felt like a sell-out at times. I currently have long hair again, but it's because of better reasons compared to back in high school. It's my perogative, I can do what I want to do. What it boils down to is that we are all unique individuals in high school. We tend to join cliques because we want to feel a sense of belonging to a group that shares the same similarities we each have. What many don't know yet is that we are all created to be unique especially individuals by God. As I've grown in my personal relationship with Jesus, I've found my true self-identity in Him-a child of God! If you feel like a sell-out or disabandoned (by Children 18:3, my local church punk rock band), call out (Jeremiah 29:11) to your Heavenly Father. Many are father-less, mother-less, or come from a dysfunctional families (varieties from low to high extreme), but we all can run to our Heavenly Father.
"Heavenly Father, I'm lonely and feel alone, I'm calling out to you right now to help me with my (circusmstance/issues, situation). I'm in a desperate need of your hand to work in my life right now. Could you please send someone my way or let me feel your loving presence to assure me of your existence in my life. In Jesus' name. Amen!
If you are concerned/angry with an individual (e.g. bully, loner, etc..) or peer at your high school, pray for this person. Instead of teasing or making any judgments (social, physical appearance, economical class, race, etc..), first ask God how you can be a better light-Christ-like-(ask God to forgive you of any wrongs or sins) to this individual. Then pray for this individual daily or regularly that you or some other Christian can reach-out to this individual.
"Heavenly Father, please touch this individual and let him/her feel your love by having your hand work personally in their issues, situation, or circumstance. I pray that they'll come to a growing personal relationship with you through this season or wilderness in their life. In Jesus' name. Amen!
I participated in several after school sport activities:
-Baseball (favorites sport all-time)
-Soccer
-Track & Field
Track & Field-Distance Team posing on the "turf-field" of the Metrodome after a fundraiser selling different types of ice cream desserts.
Being located in St. Paul, our public school emphasized the value of "multiculturalism", which really encourage me to this day (eg. starting a multicultural focus christian group-Alpha & Omega back in my senior year at UMM) in educating others on this.
Filipino booth with friends (e.g. Wanny, Chua)
Chua, a good friend, goes "gq" in front of several booths representing the different "nations" at the annual International Food Festiva.
I was part of this multicultural program called-MEP (Minority Encouragement Program), which got me a "full-ride" at UMM. I would like to give a big THANK YOU to all the teachers and staff at Harding that helped me through this program. Also, thank you to Mr. Sweetland for helping me get me and through the times at UMM (95'-99')!
Sal (see the long hair) posing with some of some MEP students from both Minneapolis and St. Paul public high schools. This was one of several trips to different colleges to get more "minorities" from the inner-cities to check out "far away" colleges in the state. This picture is taken at the University of Minnesota-Morris-food service ("PFM"), which this visit gave me a big interest to really come here (other top college choices I chose over were Gustavus Adolphus and UofM-Twin Cities). Everytime I look at this picture, I would never imagine I'll be still living here to this day!
Another after school activity was a couple cultural clubs, which was another pre-cultural/international ministry passion step to get what I do now:
-Spanish Club
-Asian Club
One of the familiar scences during "segregated" lunch hour. Yes, it was kind of "segregated" in this then (now, it's majority Asian American) "majority" Caucasian-White school. Race was a big issue and still is in this world we live. However, after coming to a personal relationship with God, I've learned that my first identity is a "child of God" (no matter, what your backgound is!)
Friends from the Asian Club pose in front of our friend's/member's "radical" car
I'm with a group of peers "behind the scenes" during this "cultural" (forgot the exact name of the event) performance we did in front of the school. It was to educated each other our cultural roots that were represented in Harding Senior High. *Fact: One of the ladies here comes to UMM for a related performance (guess who?)
Homeroom class for all 4 years with Mr. Hays "Mr. Chemistry" (judge look-a-like from "Night Court"-NBC T.V. Sitcom)
German exchange student-first int'l student to meet in the beginning of my passion of what I'm doing now-"reaching out to the nations"
Asian Friends: Rick (Fil-Am), Wanny (Viet-Am), Chu (Hmong-Am), Ger (Hmong-Am) hold their graduation certificates proudly after the graduation ceremonies.
Terry and Sean playing table tennis
All Night Party
Special gatherings honored the founding faculty member and the Cougar's first basketball coach. Words of Advice
What can I tell to high school graduates? Enjoy the moment as you won't be able to go back. I've been to many high school graduations and it's awesome to see the smiles of these graduates. I start reflecting my own graduation 11 years ago (1995) and remember the pictures I took with friends-classmates. I still have my high school yearbook, which I read off and on the words of encouragement from my peers and teachers. I would say "cherish your moments" and to appreciate the people God puts in your life. I had my 10th year reunion last summer and I did some "thank you" e-mail letters to former teachers that were still teaching at my old high school. Don't forget to say "thank-you" to the people that helped you get ahead in life.
After high school, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do in life. I applied at the University of Minnesota-Morris with the intention of majoring in Psychology. During my first year in college, I decided to plan my classes, so I can transfer to the major U-Twin Cities campus because the classes at UMM was to academically challenging for me. As life goes, your plans don't always go "exactly" how you planned. I ended up majoring with a Liberal Arts for the Human Services degree and working at a group home for developmentally diabled adults after college. Also, I didn't expect to find my purpose in life with God as my director!
Terry, Ric, Adam, and I at the St. Joseph's Hospital Parking Ramp Facility after watching the July 4th 96' Fireworks in St. Paul's Capitol Mall.
Kevin Lam (a.k.a. Chinese Cowboy)
Harding Alumns in Morris!
It's exciting to see Harding Alumns (many in ASA come to the "middle of nowhere"-Morris, Minnesota:
2004-2005: Lao
2003-2004: Anthony, Lee Thao
2002-2003: Song Vang (graduated at UMM in 2006)
1998-1999: Peter
1995-199: Sal
95' Class Reunion on Friday, July 30th 2005 at Battle Creek Park
It was a better turnout that some of us expected. I personally counted over 70 people! There was a sign-up list, which an e-mail group was set-up be our class officers to plan future reunions. Here are some pictures...
Kevin w/girlfriend and Chris
Friends (Terry w/girlfriend, Phil with his wife, and Sean) I hung out after the reunion at Maplewood's IHOP (my first time to eat in Minnesota, which my first experience was in Arizona).
All Harding Class Reunion at Cherry Pit (St. Paul, Minnesota) on Saturday, August 28th 2010
Comedian
Miscellaneous
Movie
Music
Nostalgia
T.V. Sitcoms
Head of the Class TV Theme Song
Saved By the Bell (Full version) theme
BATTLE CREEK MIDDLE-ELEMENTARY (PRIMARY SCHOOL YEARS)
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-MORRIS (COLLEGE YEARS)
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