When I was in the 8th grade, we left the great state of Louisiana and moved to Indiana. I had lived in Louisiana all of my life and all of my friends and family were there. The move was scary, to say the least. It was 1995 and it was 8th grade. What a horrible time for a girl, right? I’ve never felt uglier and more awkward.
I am 5′8″ and I was 5′8″ in the 8th grade. I looked like a teacher with my bob haircut. I remember that on the first day of school I wore a red corduroy jumper with a white button up underneath with black tights and my black Dr. Martens Mary Janes. Those shoes were so cool back then, but I wear a size 10 shoe. Do you have any idea how clown-like the Dr. Marten Mary Jane looks in a size 10?
So not cute.
Anyway, there I was. A giant. Not exactly thin. And dressed like a teacher in clown shoes. Perfect. What was I thinking? I felt twice the size of all the boys– because they hadn’t hit their growth spurt yet.
I was put into a regular English class and by the fourth week of school the teacher approached me and told me that I had over 100% in her class and she would like to move me to her Honors English class, which also meant moving to Honors Social Studies. I was flattered, but a bit scared, too. I have been in that school for four weeks and had gotten a little start at making some acquaintances, and now I was going to have to switch classes again? It’s hard enough to make friends once in the 8th grade at a new school!
So I decided to go ahead and do it. I needed an academic challenge and was willing to give it a shot.
On the first day of my new classes, I had Honors Social Studies first. The only available seat was in the back of the room next to all of the boys. Perfect. They think I’m a student teacher.
Then I overheard two of them quizzing each other on Saved By the Bell trivia. Oh, I know this! I was answering the questions to myself and getting them all right. For at least four years, I had watched four episodes of SBTB after school every day. Two episodes on TBS and two episodes on WGN. Then an episode of 90210 on FX. I could quote the show backward and forward and answer any question.
- What was the name of the homeless girl in the Christmas episode?
- What was the name of the fictitious school that Jessie wanted to attend?
- What was Zack’s score on the SAT?
- What was the name of the club that the gang made fake IDs to get into?
You get the picture.
I joined the boys and asked them a question. Neither one of them knew the answer, so I told them. Then they started asking me questions and I got them all correct. For the rest of that semester I sat in the back with them and that’s how I got through it. I wouldn’t say that they became my “friends” but it helped me transition into having someone to talk to and then having a little bit more courage to make some real friends.
So Saved By the Bell broke the ice for me at my new school.
I was telling this story to Todd and he said, “You know, I have a similar story. I was at freshman orientation for college and overheard some SBTB trivia and chimed in, too. It gave me someone to talk to for a few minutes when I didn’t know anyone.”
So, Mom and Dad. All of those wasted hours while watching Saved by the Bell came in handy for me.
I can find any way to justify useless knowledge of pop culture!
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Love Saved By the Bell! Is it sad that I have Seasons I and II on DVD? I got them as gifts in college. So funny! My favorite episode has to be the mystery dinner party.
LOL, too funny. For me, it was always “Full House” and soap operas. A couple girls were once having an arguement over one of Erica Kane’s husbands. They came storming up to me, demanding that I settle the score, lol.
I was otherwise a huge dork.
What am I talking about, lol? I’m still a huge dork, lol.
That is so funny! I am an Army brat so I know all about the akward new school situation…especially in middle school. When I started 6th grade in a new school I showed up in this adorable Limited Too shirt and plaid skirt complete with matching socks and keds and this scary girl wearing Jencos (sp?) made fun of me in the lunch line. Very traumatic…
I love it!!
Saved By The Bell didn’t necessarily help me through school, but, it did help me survive a summer at home after my mom died. It came on at 9:30 AM on TBS and every day when I got back from the gym, I could sit and watch my most beloved childhood show and just forget about being a grownup. Until of course, the back to back episodes were over and I had to go to work…. Ahhh, love TBS reruns.
Love it! I still watch sometimes in the morning- I flip back and forth between CNN during my breakfast so I will feel at least somewhat adult!
I totally agree about 8th grade being an awkward time. 7th and 8th grade were the most insecure times of my life. At the end of 8th grade I moved to a school four times the size of my old one. It was so terrible. Fortunately, one girl had some sympathy on me, she became my best friend, and is still my best friend to this day!
Love SBTB!!!! What happened to all those good shows?
Saved by the Bell is awesome!! I loved that show and watched it morning and night when I was that age!
I feel you about the big feet situation. I had a pair of yellow Docs that sat in my closet for years. Every time I wore them, I felt like I was walking around on giant bananas.
Also, yay for SBTB! It’s so funny how TV can be this great leveling factor. A little prime time knowledge and some basic understanding of sports (which I do not have), and you can talk to pretty much anyone!
Oh my goodness, I completely understand how hard it is for a kid to move to a new school. I moved from California to Florida in 8th grade and it was brutal. I wore the wrong type of shoes and nearly got beat up for being a “skater”. And I didn’t even know what that meant! I learned very quickly what was “safe” to wear and made a trip to the mall. (I just wish the “safe” clothes had been something cooler than colored Bongo jean shorts with matching tops and scrunchies!)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Saved By The Bell! I watched it all those same times you did while eating my “after school snack” before I had to crack down on the homework. I also found middle school to be an extremely awkward time, and I think maybe my worst years in school ever in terms of friends and insecurity. Luckily I made it through fairly unscathed. Okay, now I used to know the answers to all of those questions, but it has been so long since I have seen my beloved SBTB that I feel rusty. I think I might need to refresh my memory next weekend. Thanks for the trip down memory lane
Wow! I too left the great state of Louisiana in 8th grade for the cold midwest…Ohio. And I too was as tall as I was going to get…at 5′ 7″. junior High, rough times! But it was 1988…so no SBTB reruns for me, but I would’ve rocked a Facts of Life trivia contest!!
I feel your size 10 pain.
What a fabulous story! Where would we ll be today without SBTB? I also love that you watched it 5 times a day on TBS and WGN…my little sister and I did the same, and I know it drove our parents crazy!
Middle school was such a bad time for me, and many others! I hate to think about sending my kids there one day!
I loved SBTB!! Sometimes I still watch it in the morning. Im a dork I know
I loved The College Years and especially when Zack and Kelly got married. Your little boy is so cute. Hope your having a great day.
Karah
Such a good story. Moving to a new school is so hard. I saw so many children have to deal with doing it . . . It’s never easy, but having a “hook” such as SBTB or sports certainly helps!! xoxo
the countless hours watching and re-watching were so worth it on my front too!
I couldn’t tell you how many hours I sat in front of the TV watching SBTB! Now Macy has taken over that job and she thinks it is so cool that mom can tell her what’s going to happen. {haha}. It is always hard moving to a new school {I started middle in one state after moving AND high school in another after moving again} so glad you found a common ground and that was able to be the ice breaker for ya. Hope your having a great week! = )
Seriously, what would we have done without Saved By The Bell?????
I think a lot of people have similar stories to this one. It was a great show, not only because it was hilarious and fun, but because it was so popular it brought people together who might not have ordinarily had anything in common.
Agreed with the SBTB memories! The days after school with the double hit of TBS and WGN was a total score. I watch it in the mornings now before going to work, however have to switch if its the junior high years-they just are not the same.
And can I tell you I know exactly how you felt being the odd duck out. I have been 5′5″ and pretty much the same build since 4th grade. Doesn’t exactly help self esteem issues when you are a good foot taller than your girlfriends and nearly two above the boys! I don’t think I would repeat those years for any sum of money!
Saved by the Bell helped me survive summers as an only child cooped up in my house without a car or friends in the neighborhood!
That is hilarious!! I still watch re-runs of Saved By the Bell and 90210. My husband, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law all quiz each other on Saved By the Bell, and we come up with the most detailed and difficult q’s we can think of! Nerdy!!! But, not I don’t feel as bad!
I’m so glad you got moved to the Honors classes – otherwise I don’t know if we would have become friends!
Hudson is adorable!!! xoxo
Cute story! I can relate….I am still obsessed and run the biggest fansite! But I am normal and blogger/newlywed myself, too! http://www.nestinginnc.com I enjoy your blog!
I am going to share this story with other fans. 