As I was going through my older yearbooks, I realized that I was SO boy crazy during Jr. High & High School that I’d better just mesh the 2.5 schools together. I say “2.5″ because I went to a 2nd High School after the first. I’ll get to that.. 
So, here we go! Jr. High:
Oh hurray. The 'awkward years' begin. Braces are so cruel to a smile... lol
7th grade introduced my ‘first crush’. Utter chaos rampaged through that year in now receiving 7 different classes all in one day. I think this year is hard for almost every kid. Trying to find your ‘social class’ and where you belong. I think I hung out with the Goth’s this year… or maybe that was 8th grade. Obviously I didn’t look the part, but I think I was SO intimdated with social rank and multiple classes I just found whoever would accept me. That was the theme of this year. The year was such a blur, I can’t remember who my favorite teacher was. I did join band, and played the clarinet. That was fun. 
The Perm arrives! Wooo hooo for curls!
8th grade, I remember internet being very popular. I got my first email with Eudora and had fun chatting with my oldest bro. in San Francisco on ICQ. Netscape was the first browser I ever used, and I still believe I was using a Mac. Or maybe this was the transitioning year to PC… hmmm… again, Jr. High is a blur. It wasn’t my fav. time in my life. My friend Katie and I got blocked from a chat room this year I remember. All I can say is, Jr. High age kids shouldn’t be allowed on the internet, LOL!!! Seriously…
This year, my favorite class was English. I LOVED learning about the Holocaust and Slavery. I remember being SO incredibly shocked that that stuff actually happened. I LOVED learning about American History. This year my Mom and Brother and I went on a trip to Washington DC, Gettysburg and Virginia. My brother was an intern for Sen. Orrin Hatch so we got to see some pretty exclusive sites. Very memorable trip, so amazing to see all those sites. To this day, Holocaust & Slavery themed Biography Non-Fiction books are my ultimate favorite books. I read through them so fast. ♥ I absolutely still love learning about American History! The Colonial Period is my ultimate fav. !
![Good hair day. This actually [for rea] is why I am smiling so big in this picture. I remember distinctly that I was thinking "My hair looks so good!" while this picture was taken. :) I had it professionally done before YB pictures.](http://rebeccacooperblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/yb09.jpg?w=258 "YB09")
Good hair day. This actually, for real -is why I am smiling so big in this picture. I remember distinctly that I was thinking "My hair looks so good!" while this picture was taken. I had it professionally done before YB pictures.
9th grade was my first year in AP (advanced placement) English. I LOVE English Literature to this day. Love it! I was so excited to get accepted into the class. Though, I will say – I loathed reading ‘A Tale of Two Cities‘. That was like pulling teeth to read. Blah. 
Thank goodness for Cliff notes! Woo hoo!
This year was (thank goodness) the only year I felt pressured to be ‘trendy’. BLAH, thank goodness I grew out of that FAST! I vowed I’d be happy with whatever clothes looked decent and comfortable. I realized after my “friends” decided they wanted to go ‘elsewhere’ after this year ended, that I would never worry about what name brand clothing I wore. Being so superficial was not my cup of tea… I saw what it did to people and I didn’t want to be that kind of person.
I cried hard right before this picture. Thus my 10th grade year started, feeling just the same. Did not like this High School
10th grade, didn’t start out right. Mainly due to my “friends” I thought I had, ditched me. But I gained new friends, which made the school year livable. I still have those friends to this day – so that’s cool! Track was fun this year. But when it ended and I transferred to a new High School – that was my most memorable time of my life! ♥
This year though, I first began acting in plays. I took singing lessons, and participated in several local productions. I had A LOT of fun. AP English was AWESOME, I LOVED reading The Count of Monte Cristo. One of my FAVORITE books!
Journal Entries
Tue 7-10-01
Oh! I had a life threatening experience happen to me yesterday! After play practice there was a HUGE rainstorm! A flash flood! I about peed my pants driving home. I drove my friend Shalane home and on the way back, I almost drove over the overpass about 4 times! I have never said so many prayers in 1 night my entire life! … I just barely got to the intersection, I just went behind someone so I could see. It was like driving through a car wash. I hate driving my Dads car! Its so old, I had to hold down the windshield wipers the whole time. When I got home, our whole neighborhood went over to the Karrens because their basement got flooded to your ankles. Their window burst in the storage room and water came pouring in. I was up most of the night drying papers! But ya…
A far better picture than 10th grade... a far better outlook on life. I LOVED this High School!!! ♥
11th grade was the beginning of lots of things. I LOVED this high school. SO many amazing friends I gained, lifelong friends. Fantastic teachers, fantastic environment and the school didn’t feel like a jail (like the other school did). Sorry to those who liked that ‘other school’, but I didn’t enjoy it.
This year I excelled in AP English, AP Art and Creative Writing. I also did more play productions in the local county Theater. As well as participated in Swing Club. My whole ‘self’ blossomed. But it didn’t come without hard times. Halfway through the year, a dear close friend, my best friend killed himself. But I learned quickly that it was both a curse and a blessing. As through that whole experience – blossomed my gifts in Creative Writing and Art. For someone who has never had a close friend or a family member commit suicide – will never understand what it’s like. It’s life changing in either direction: bad or good. It’s survival at its best, in an unexplainable way. You just have to go through it to understand, but I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
After his death, is when I began some bad habits. Eating Disorders. Anorexia & Bulimia. I lost about 80 lbs in 3 months. Hence, this guys comment in this years yearbook:
-B-
A. You need to grow some more. Ah, you look a lot better than you did when I first met ya… ummm well see ya in 2 years maybe.
–Trevor
Hard not to take that at the time and do some more. Lost 15 more pounds within the next 2 months, as I had received more comments like that in my yearbook. I stopped losing weight when I reached close to 80 lbs. Sounds extreme, but a girl of my height- and also wearing baggy clothes when your ribs start to show – you can’t really tell as much like you could with a girl who is taller. I was very sneaky… very clever.
Prom the end of 11th Grade. I went with a guy who was in the Air Force. Was 24 years old... I was 17... my Parents didn't mind! HA! >:)
To help the weight loss quicken, I would eat a few bites in the morning, so my Mom would see that ‘I ate something’, then I would eat a Slim Fast Snack bar for lunch and then I’d have a Salad for dinner. After school I’d go to the gym for 2 hours, and then for a short period I went for 3 hours. The guys at the gym who would come to work out, then leave and I was STILL on the bike, would say things like “Holy @#$@# girl! You’re like a machine!” After I finished I would be DRENCHED in sweat. So much that my clothes would stick to my body like I just got out of the pool. It was gross. SO SO SO very bad, but I was mentally ill. I dove into something that I had control over because I felt like my world spun out of control.
By the end of the summer after 11th grade I got the sense knocked into me with help from Counselors & God. I received a Priesthood Blessing from my Dad that promised me, that if I wanted to be happy I needed to be close to the Lord. That He promises that if I hold close to him, I will be happy. With that blessing I pressed forward, my desire to be SO skinny disappeared and I focused completely upon the Gospel, School and just being happy. I did gain some weight back, but I still looked good. Good enough for me.
Journal Entries
Tue 9-11-01
*When I heard I was in 6th period in seminary, about 9:30 – 10: 00 AM. Possible WW3!!!
AMERICA IS UNDER ATTACK!
Today the trade building (used to be the tallest buildings in America) got ran into by 2 high jacked planes, in New York. One other plane ran into the Pentagon & another crashed into Pennsylvania. All planes were high jacked. I am still shocked & stunned reality hasn’t hit me yet. The possibility of a WW3 scares me. The fact that there are still such evils in the world that these terrorists could take passenger planes & kill everyone on board.
The storys of the relatives of killed people that have been on the radio & TV all day of the calls they received from loved ones on board the plane before they died, aches my heart. Even though I didn’t lose anyone or didn’t know any of the people effected it still hurts me to know others are hurting & I can’t help or comfort because I’m too far away… It’s affected the whole nation & everyone is changed. Their perspective of life has changed more humbly, I know mine has. Today for the 1st time in awhile I think people completely turned off their obsessions of media & whats going on in hollywood & all that crap & have hit reality in the face of real life & concern of those in suffering. Forget all the riches & high society in the world & focus on the dieing & suffering. I don’t know, all I can say, this event today has shaken me up & has changed my life! Something I will NEVER forget!
– Rebecca
p.s. I was in seminary (Bro. Olsen’s) when I heard about it.
Thur. 12-20-01
*Deep Thoughts*
You know, one thing that sucks about being a teenager, is you’re always worrying about stuff & your emotions are ALWAYS going crazy. So today I was laying on my bed listening to music, doing some deep thinking & came to this conclusion…
A lot of girls my age & in my grade, have their lives revolving around boys, or one certain boy. I have been that way, but I do not want to anymore. I have decided & believe you have the rest of your life to find that “special someone”, but you just have a few years in high school to be a teenager & have fun w/ your friends. Why waste those few unforgetable years worrying about who your going to marry? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that boys are bad, & I’m throwing them out. Of course I”m still going to go on dates & do stuff with them, & it’s always fun to talk about them & dream about your “future wedding”. I’m just saying, go through your high school years with your friends & spend every second you can with them & everyone you can, cuz I can garuntee you’ll regret it if you don’t. You will never get the chance to re-live it. Don’t worry about that “special someone” because he’ll come when the time is right. As long as you live your life w/ the gospel & stay close to your heavenly father, the right one will come even quicker. “God may not bring him when you want him, but he’ll never let him come late”. Blessings come when your worthy to receive them.
I say let the guys (in high school) that get you prepared for the right one, find you & sweep you off your feet/ win you over. Don’t go crazy chasing them. IN the mean time, have fun with your friends. Have the boys on the side.
That’s my philosophy!
–Rebecca
Sun. 4-14-02
Today… I had a bishop’s appointment & was called to be the Laurel’s second counselor. Then he saw my second hole earrings & asked me to pray & find out what I should do about them because the Prophet has asked that women have only one pair. He also said that being in the Presidency I need to be an example, that a lot of girls look up to me already. I almost cried. I left & went to my Sunday school class, & it was all I could do to keep from crying. During the whole class I was debating whether or not to take them out. Finally, I knew what the right thing to do was, & I took them out. I then went to the bishop’s office & asked to talk to him again, & I went in & handed the earrings to him & said “Sorry” & started to cry. I explained to him about how guilty I felt & how I don’t want to be a hypocrit to all my friends & future family, cuz I always tell them how everyone needs to be examples. You may think no one is watching you, because you think you aren’t anything special, how can you influence someone’s life but look @ Joseph Smith, he was just 1 person, & now look @ how big the Church is now because of his influence & example.
I thanked him for being so forward w/ me. That sometimes you don’t realize the mistakes you make until someone calls you upon it, sometimes also, you don’t fully realize them until awhile later. I mean, my parents got mad @ me, but right then, I didn’t see it as a mistake. The bishop then told me he knew I would come back & he asked to keep the earrings.
– Rebecca
Yearbook Signing
One of my favorites in this yearbook is from a friend of mine named Jared:
“Becky,
You are a great friend. I will always be one to talk to. I’m so glad that I’ve met you cause my life has been greatly improved by you. Good luck with life and be happy forever.
-Jared”
Isn’t it so refreshing when people actually sign your yearbook with meaningful and thoughtful comments? I have found as I have been sifting through my old yearbooks that gradually as kids got older, they got smarter (imagine that). But not everyone, lol! There still are “Call me, # , name”. Thankfully the majority have written something memorable and kind. Love it. ♥
My most FAVORITE yearbook picture. What a way to end school. I LOVED my senior year! LOVED it!
12 grade was the BEST school year of my life. I loved it SO MUCH. I excelled even further in AP Art, English & Creative writing. I had so much fun in Drama, local Theater productions (was asked to play the Narrator in Joseph!! ). I also had so much fun with sculpture class. I built a life-size man!
'The Man' sculpted using the technique called 'Coil Wrap'.
This year, right before school started – I had drawn for the very first time ever: realism. I had never drawn realism before. This is why I had mentioned that through such extreme emotions after the death of my friend, in a way it was a blessing in my life. I learned that through emotion I could create. I was blessed to use my emotions as a tool through my newborn talent.
The end of the school year I had graduated with honors in Sculpture, AP Art, English, Drama and Creative Writing. My most favorite teachers were Mr. Boehme for sculpture, Cushing for Art and Mrs. Bean in Creative Writing. They were my life-lines in High School and I feel made me a big part of who I am today. They taught me about Art Therapy and Writing Therapy. I am so grateful for them in my life. ♥
Yearbook Signing
A favorite entry of mine. Brent was another one of my close friends in High School. This YB entry meant a lot to me. Thanks Brent!
“Beckers!
You are so freakin hot! You make me laugh & I can’t help but smile when I think of ya. You have to stay spontaneous and funny. I love how you are so excited about your religion, it makes me excited too! I know I will serve a wonderful mission because of your strength. You are such an influence for good in my life. No words can express the love (friendly, brotherly) and respect I have for you. Please, please, PLEASE, call me & email me, & visit me all the time!! I’ll see you @ work on Friday, but that’s WAY too long to wait! Come over and see me. If it weren’t for you, I would still be the “cushing” guy I was. You helped me learn to speak up & stick up for myself. You have affected me the most! Much love forever,
– Brentage”
These entries made me laugh:
“Hey Becky,
I hope to see something of yours in an art exhibit some day. You made sculpture both a fun and disturbing experience.
– [I can't read his name, oh well. whoever it is, YOU'RE FUNNY!!! haha!] “
“Becky -
No matter how hot your husband is don’t forget me.
– Lucas”
I’m sorry Lucas, I can’t remember you! But my husband is indeed [very] hot!
These entries made me go, “Awwww” :
“Beck-
You are the greatest peace maker! I ♥ you!
–Jordan!”
“I freakin am in ♥ w/ you! When I came back from rehab you were so accepting & kind. I was afraid I wouldn’t even have anyone who would talk to me. Thanx 4 everything. I ♥ u
–[ for privacy reasons, OBVIOUSLY no name will be here]“
“Becky,
You are so cool and you’re always so happy keep it up. Also have a great summer.
Your friend,
Stephen“
“Becky,
For such a small person, you’re really cool! It’s been a pleasure to know you!
– Mike”
Funny thing is, Mike was just as short as I was!
It’s interesting. SO many people get yearbooks, have them signed and then store them away in boxes and hardly – if ever – look at them again. I had SO MUCH FUN looking through mine, and wanted to document my memories, life experiences during those years that affected me and my thoughts and thoughts from others about me. Maybe someday my kids or someone else might ‘get something’ from this. You never know.
I highly recommend this. It’s a lot of fun!
If you didn’t read my Elementary post, you can by clicking here.
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She is lost in thought. 
LOL!
