Clear Fork High School is a random building in the middle of nowhere, Mid-Ohio. It's the home of the Colts, Lady Colts, and a few things that make it original. As a 2015 graduate, here are a few things that set Clear Fork apart from the other high schools around us.
1. Colt Cards
If you played on a sports team, hearing anyone mention colt cards made you want to throw up. Some people could sell 20, but you could barely remember to sell five and that gave you anxiety.
2. Competing to get parking spots in the Junior and Senior lots
The first morning in August that juniors and seniors could by parking passes was the only day when most of the students in both classes were out of bed before 10:00 a.m.
3. Parking illegally in the KCCC parking lot because you weren't fast enough to get a good parking pass
If you were lucky, the administration wouldn't do parking pass checks until the end of the year and you would escape scot free. If you weren't so lucky, spending two hours extra at school on a Friday was in store for you.
4. Wondering how people with nine mods per day could survive high school
By the time you got halfway through fifth mod, you were ready for a nice long nap.
5. Explaining mods and how our block scheduling works to others
"Oh, what's block scheduling?"
"Well, it's this beautiful thing that causes us to only have five classes, but the drawback is that you have to sit in a class for 80 minutes. However, its OK because then the class is over before Christmas break."
6. Mr. Beans
Need I say more? He's seriously the most sarcastic/loved/sometimes hated man in the valley.
7. Constantly wondering how you fit all your stuff in those tiny lockers
"I have a life, how can I fit everything in here?"
That was a thought that had to have gone through your head at least once a week in the dead of winter, while carrying a lunch box, back pack, musical instrument, and a sports backpack. Or maybe that was just me.
8. Praying for the day during the school year when it would be too icy on Dill Hill to go to school
Dill Hill was/is the saving grace of getting to miss school. That hill gets icy and stays icy, so you might as well have a Netflix marathon.
9. Having no school on the Friday of the Bellville Fair
This was wonderful when it happened. Everyone got angry when they started making us go for half of a day. Come on, people, it's the fair!
10. Knowing the name, life history, and a set of random facts about almost everyone in your graduating class
It's the definition of a small town life.
11. Wondering what the musical was going to be every year
Is it going to be Disney? Or maybe it's one I have never heard of? We always knew that it was going to be well done and fun to watch every year, though.
12. Constantly being scared of Hubler and Bowman busting you for dress code
This is for those from the class of 2015 and you know that it is such an accurate statement. Walking past their rooms with a skirt on that was too short or shorts that weren't to your knees made you want to freak out.
13. Contemplating whether or not Mr. E. was actually alive in 1800s
The man knows everything that there is to know about everything history. No one can touch him. He's a walking encyclopedia.
14. Hearing Mr. Ramion before you could actually see him.
He was so loud all of the time.
15. Knowing not to mess with Kinnard when he hadn't had two cups of coffee yet
He's a good man, but he's not so nice without a good amount of caffeine in his system. I bet that the people at his new job know this now too.
16. Wanting to be student of the quarter just for the Dairy Belle ice cream
Diary Belle ice cream is enough of a reward to do well in a class. I mean, come on, you might even get sprinkles.
17. Giving Connie Barr utmost respect all the time because she put up with Beans like a champ
She wins an award for being his secretary and for still continuing to deal with him when he comes into the high school. She has to be a saint and we are/were all thankful for her.
18. Remembering when Mrs. Moore's snake escaped and died
Don't bring this up to her. She will tell you that it doesn't make her sad, but it does.
19. Forever wishing that you had joined FFA, they are a powerhouse
The Clear Fork chapter of FFA gets the job done. It seems like every time you turn around, the students and faculty in the AG hallway are winning awards, winning grants, and making strides to help make this world a better place.
20. Thinking about every single day you wouldn't have to walk through the doors again
You may never walk in the doors of Clear Fork High School again, but the things that you experienced and were taught there will stick with you wherever you go. To some, that may be a scary thought.
I, for one, am glad that my years at Clear Fork are over, but memories like these made my four long years there a little more tolerable.
