by Jennifer Sandoval
Published Spring 2001

The graduating class of 2001 will walk down the aisle in April with sophisticated style against the beautiful backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. It might be hard to recall the day when these young professionals and graduate students danced like robots and sang along to the words of Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean” in their fluorescent t-shirts.

The last two decades were filled with advances and setbacks from technology to television programming. From funny to horrifying and embarrassing to sad, seniors reminisce about what made the time period they grew up in unique.

Spring grads were born under the presidency of Jimmy Carter and quickly transitioned into infanthood under Ronald Reagan. 1980 brought key historical moments such as the explosion of Mount Saint Helens in the Cascade Range of Washington State. The volcano spewed rock and ash over 60,000 feet into the air, killing 65 people and destroying over 230 square miles.

But, along with the tragedies, the early ‘80s bring fond memories to the minds of 2001 grads.

“When I was like five, in my apartment complex the guys and girls would battle it out with dance wars and I was the only girl who could break-dance,” said senior Chantelle Simoes. “Looking at it now it’s hilarious to think that you were revered if you could crawl around the floor looking like a worm.”

Senior Jessica Graham agrees.

“I remember doing ‘the snake,’ where you continuously move your body in a ridiculous ‘S’ shape; ‘the Robocop,’ where you flail your hands in opposite directions while jolting your shoulder and of course moon-walking like Michael Jackson,” she said.

Senior Nicole Bowden also remembers the pop icon.

“The thing I remember the most is Michael Jackson,” she said. “He was my first concert.”

Michael Jackson was not the only artist popular among young teens.

“I listened to rap in middle school like MC Hammer and LL Cool J,” said senior Phil Lighty.

But these artists were not the only people making headlines. As these kids grew up and watched musical history unfold, key events impacted their elementary school experience.

In January of 1986 students everywhere watched as the highly anticipated launch of the Challenger shuttle exploded 73 seconds into it flight, killing all seven crew members including Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space.

“I watched it in school in like fourth grade,” said senior Brad Brekelbaum. “The explosion was heart-wrenching. I still remember that.”

Simoes also recalls the fateful day.

“At my elementary school, they had an assembly where they lowered the flag and the whole day was devoted to talking about each individual student’s thoughts and feelings about the tragedy,” she said.

The ‘80s were home to much more than tragedy, although some students may feel there was more than one kind of tragic occurrence. Fashion trends took their own shape with outrageous style and, according to some, embarrassing combinations.

“I didn’t get into a lot of the fads, but I did have crispy hair and bangs,” said Simoes.

“I also owned this pair of short overalls with fringes on the bottom. They were ugly stonewashed jeans with manufactured holes and I wore them with one strap down and one strap hooked.”

“Guys didn’t look any better,” she added. “Whenever I see a picture of my brother in fluorescent pink ‘Hammer pants,’ I still laugh.”

 “I used to wear my hair in a side pony, socks, neon, big shirts, body suits, dress like Madonna, wear ugly jumpers that tie on your shoulders, jean dresses and T-shirt clips with leggings,” said Graham.

Senior Phil Lighty reflects on fashion for young men.

“I had overalls and that whole thing,” he said. “The big thing in junior high was to wear a parka of some sports team.”

As fashion changed, so did world politics.

In 1990 the world witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany after 28 years of division between east and west. The wall was built to decrease the number of defections from communist East Berlin to western countries such as Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Once travel restrictions were lifted by East Berlin, the wall came down.

Brekelbaum remembers the event well and realizes its significance after a trip to Germany last summer.

“I just remember seeing all the people on TV,” he said. “ I couldn’t really comprehend it until I went to Berlin and saw the wall. It’s just that communism was always a part of our lives and the wall was built before we were born. Now [the importance] hits me.”

The 79ers remember many other aspects of television in their childhood aside from breaking news. Seniors remember the shows that created their TV routines.

“‘The Thundercats’ cartoon were my favorite!” said Brekelbaum. “And ‘Saved by the Bell’ was really big.”

“I watched ‘Gummy Bears’, ‘Ducktales,’ ‘Thundercats,’ ‘She-Ra’ and ‘He-Man’ religiously,” said Simoes. “Oh my gosh! I loved the ‘Wonder Years;’ I felt like I was there. Of course, how could I forget ‘Beverly Hills 90210’? My friends and I would talk about it like it was our lives.”

Graham also had favorites from her childhood.

“I watched all those cartoons,” she said. “My afternoon lineup usually included ‘The Cosby Show,’ ‘Bosom Buddies,’ ‘Three’s Company,’ ‘Ninja Turtles,’ ‘Full House,’ or ‘Growing Pains.’”

As these students became more sophisticated, so did the issues their generation had to face.

One of the most influential events of this generation’s childhood was the Persian Gulf War led by General Norman Schwarzkopf. Operation Desert Storm was launched on Jan.18, 1991.  The conflict began on August 2, 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait. Thirty two nations were involved in the short war during January and February of 1991. President George Bush declared a cease fire on Feb. 28 when most of the Iraqi forces in Kuwait had left or surrendered.

“I remember my mom was very happy that my dad was out of the naval reserve when the war broke out,” said Lighty.

In recent years, as 2001 grads entered their sophomore year, the Columbine shooting occurred in Colorado, leaving 15 high school students dead at the hands of their classmates.

“I was traumatized because I had never seen a mass murder before, and the fact it was children was even more devastating. That hit really close to home,” said Graham.

From “Hammer pants” and crispy bangs, the last generation of the 1970s at Pep take with them memories of the events and trends that were the essence of their generation.

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