Page 125 - From the Outhouse 4 -21

125 | P A T R I C I A R A E M E R R I T T W H A T L E Y

My high school years were exceptional. I joined the chorus and became a majorette and cheerleader. I loved those years because I
traveled with the football team and chorus. Besides, I visited other high schools as a member of the Honor Society. I was not an A

student, but a B+ student, ranking in the top 10 of my class. Once again, my mother was instrumental in making sure I got my

academics because she wanted me to wear those yellow chords on my high school robe, which signified that I was smart, intelligent,
and talented. She required that! This achievement qualified me to receive a music scholarship to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical

University, a historically black college in Tallahassee, Florida. We declined the offer because my parents felt the university was too

large for me.

During my high school years, I also enjoyed going to the Community Center to dances, although my grandmother accompanied me

or some other adult. At first, I was embarrassed, but I soon overcame it because I wanted to dance, get a glimpse of my high school
boyfriend, and maybe even get to dance with him. The popular songs at that time were “Good Golly Miss Molly” by Little Richard,

“Maybellene” by Chuck Berry, and “For Your Precious Love” by Jerry Butler.