Get to Know TJM: School Days Revisited!

With students heading back into the classroom, we asked our staff to revisit their school days and tell us, knowing what they know now, what advice they would give their middle school selves. And if they could go back to school, what they would do differently. Here’s what we said:

Shannon Moore

If you could tell your middle-school self just one thing, what would it be?

I wouldn't really want to change anything that happened back in middle school to change who I am now. If I needed to say anything, I'd probably say: keep being yourself and having fun. Don't stress about school, boys, or what other people think. Life works itself out when it needs to. 

Would you go back to school, knowing what you know now, and do it over again? 

If I could go back to school, I'd probably go back to my junior year of high school.  I had such a blast.  Highlight reel was soccer, art class, friendships made, and our mission trip that we took with our church – that year, I believe it was the Dominican Republic. May or may not have also been the year I started dating my husband...

[Editor’s Note: Shannon also answered our Bonus Question]

What was your most memorable school field trip and why? 

I always loved our end of the year field trips because they were usually to a theme park and on or near my birthday. The one that comes to mind is the year we went to Universal and I rode the Hulk for the first time. I think that was in 8th grade. Such a blast. 

Rick Cundiff

If you could tell your middle-school self just one thing, what would it be?

Relax. This too shall pass, and you’ll go on from here to have a great life. Don’t let the petty stuff get to you.

Would you go back to school, knowing what you know now, and do it over again? 

If I did, it would be college. I’d take myself less seriously, and enjoy it more. And I’d probably change my major so I wouldn’t have to take that (censored) Statistics class again. Three times was enough!

Courtney Cole

If you could tell your middle-school self just one thing, what would it be?

If I could tell my middle school self one thing … tin foil cannot be microwaved.

In my 6th grade science class, we made hot dog solar cookers. Well, the day we did that project, it was not sunny at all. So, a few of us decided we were going to just take our hot dogs to the teachers' lounge and cook them in the microwave.

No one told us to take the foil off. Let's just say that was the last day that the microwave ever worked. [Editor’s Note: And you undoubtedly learned a science lesson!]

Would you go back to school knowing what you know now, and do it over again?

If I could go back to school, it would be high school for sure. I absolutely loved it. I can honestly say I would focus a little more on the academics but other than that. I had the time of my life. Maybe too much fun, haha!

The middle school I went to was attached to the high school at the time, so I graduated with the same friends I made in 6th grade. We were a big, fun group that spent a lot of time together. It made for the best memories.

Anonymous Office Cynic

[Editor’s Note: The Cynic was willing to comment, but not to be identified. Because he is the Editor’s boss, we’re honoring that request.]

If you could tell your middle-school self just one thing, what would it be?

“It doesn’t get any better.”

[Editor’s Note: There’s one in every crowd.]

Justin MacDonald

If you could tell your middle-school self just one thing, what would it be?

Middle school. What a wild time. I feel like everyone was doing whatever they could to fit in and, somehow simultaneously, be unique. It’s also where I met some of my best, lifelong friends. I was a bit mischievous in middle school, so I got into more than just a little bit of trouble, but none of it was incredibly serious. If I could talk to my middle school self, I would say “Don’t change a thing.”  I think those experiences vastly shaped who I am today. There’s plenty of other things I’d change throughout my life, but weirdly, middle school isn’t one of them.  

Would you go back to school, knowing what you know now, and do it over again? 

If I could do college over again, I’d go back to my freshman year and focus more on fun and less about trying to be what version of an adult I thought I needed to be.  

Sandy Matolo

Would you go back to school, knowing what you know now, and do it over again? 

If I could go back in time, I’d definitely choose my last two years of high school. I’d encourage that younger version of myself to follow her heart and pursue her dream of becoming a psychologist rather than becoming an accountant.

Of course, it’s never too late to make changes or follow a new path, but sometimes life, circumstances, and even the economy have a way of influencing the choices we make. And honestly, adulting is not nearly as fun as I thought it would be!

So, if I had the chance, I’d happily go back and stay there for a little while—back before all the responsibilities, when life felt a little simpler and the possibilities seemed endless.