Not many people have heard of our small town or the small high school within it, but nonetheless, there are many events and little memories that really made those four years special. Although we all grew up wishing it weren't true, our high school defined a lot about us and the people we have since become. It may have been a hell hole, but it's our hell hole.
Take a trip down memory lane; here are nine things all RB Rockets know to be true:
1. For homecoming, we went ALL OUT.
Even the kids who never participated in ANYTHING participated in homecoming - mostly costume days, and possibly due to peer pressure from everyone else, but all is fair in love and Color Wars. Plus, you HAD to beat the seniors.
2. Our town's claim to fame is a corn maze.
The two things listed under the "Tourist Activities" sign on the way into town are a farm and a corn maze. I go to college in Indiana and have met more than one person who remembers going to Richardson's Adventure Farm as a kid.
We are also home to the first vertical silo, which is a very underappreciated fun fact if you ask me.
3. Our school is OBSESSED with football.
Come on - your "Auditorium" also doubles as the cafeteria and an overflow gym, but yet only a few years after a massive gym expansion the school is seriously debating installing a turf field.
I have to admit I still miss Friday Night Under the Lights.
4. When Mr. Lind randomly called numbers during lunch periods to win free T-shirts and gift cards, we all secretly hoped we would be chosen.
Of course, people would shout out numbers that were always 1-20 when there were well over 150 names on the list. Names at the end of the alphabet never received any love.
5. We make fun of our town's obsession with corn, but when it comes down to it, you have to admit, it is REALLY good corn.
Nothing beats Stade's sweet corn.6. When I say "The Snowcoming Incident," you know what I'm talking about.
And Snowcomings would be banned forever after.
7. Vocal Valentines were and will always be iconic.
The best class days were the interrupted class days. Plus, they came with the added bonus of watching someone be serenaded and thoroughly embarrassed.
8. We've all known each other since Kindergarten.
In our small little community, everybody knows everybody and everything about everybody, all the way down to middle names, parents' names and favorite colors. I'm having a hard time thinking of even one person I never had a class with or spoke to from my grade. We've grown up together, for better or worse.
9. Despite everything, we all still have at least some fond memories of good ole' RB.
As far as high-schools go, it could have been worse. The teachers cared, the school wasn't falling apart and the cafeteria had really good mozzarella sticks. Most of us made memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
Or, if you didn't, at least it's in the past.