My oh my how high school has changed

Today I went to Mountain View High School to speak on a PFLAG panel. I have been on the speakers bureau for about 2 years, but really only speak to students about 4 times a year because of conflicts with work time. But everyonce in a while, like today, I take an "extended lunch" and speak to youth about awareness and what it's like to be Gay.

First off, this school was immaculate. well kept feild, beautiful views of the hills, and over all very clean. There were flyers up everywhere from issues such as a protest against animal testing to a rally against immigrant discrimation. *wow*. The class was a gender studies elective course and had sophmores through seniors. I couldnt believe that they had such an elective course, let alone all the freedoms you get in class now. They were allowed to have food, beverage, and even chew gum! almost everyone had an ipod.

Now when I was in high school, I went to a 3 story brick building (this was back in Chicago) and we werent allowed anything in class. The only protests we had were race driven. Basically there was a huge riot my freshmen year between a number of black and white students. I stayed away from school during that week, not wanting to involve myself in the crazy melee. I definitely felt old coming out of that class, since everyone that was in it was born in or after 1989. nothing like a dose of reality to bring you to the present. All in all, the questions were great and so were the kids. They asked good questions, and seemed genuinely interested in what we had to say. I think thats why I stay on the bureau, because I always get something out of it when I go and I love hearing what our youth in thinking in present day.