Three 1953 Uni High alums — Jack Wills, Terry Abrahams, and Greg Gregorich — have written about their experiences at Uni and wanted to share their thoughts with current students and faculty. Our first contributor was Jack Wills, whose article appeared Wednesday. Today we publish Terry Abrahams, née Kaplan, who discusses the many activities outside of class that came to define who Uni students were in the early 1950s. In addition, Gargoyle senior editor Alex Zhai interviewed Ms. Abrahams via e-mail, and a transcript of that Q&A can be found after the article.

Terry Abrahams as pictured in the 1953 Uni yearbook. Yearbook photo (click to enlarge)

Terry Abrahams began fencing when she was a 14-year-old Uni student. Now 71, not only is she still at it, she is world class in the sport. Photo courtesy Terry Abrahams (click to enlarge)

YEP, WE WERE smart! We were given good study skills; we learned a lot; we went on to college; we grew up to be successes in our professional lives. But you know what? I hardly remember what I learned, and I can always look it up if I want.

For me, the best part of Uni was the non-studies — the extracurricular stuff. Those activities I participated in are what truly shaped my life — at least my “leisure” life. My dad (a sociologist of leisure) said that what we do in our leisure really defines who we are, since jobs aren't necessarily going to be fulfilling (he was concerned with the technical world taking over personal pride).

The “Attic” was the place to be. Every day after school, every day at noon, there was an activity to attend. Badminton, girls chorus, boys chorus, mixed chorus, madrigals (oh how I wanted to be in that group), orchestra — how cool it was to have an orchestra, not a band. (What snobs we were!) But I still love to attend concerts, I still reminisce over French horn parts, I still remember my horn mates.

And Gilbert and Sullivan? It was the highlight of the year, the place to be, the pièce de résistance. How many of us still dash to see a performance when in town (I just saw “Pirates” as a ballet), how many of us still quote from songs when appropriate (which is often), how many of us still sing under our breath, how many of us can’t wait for a Uni reunion, knowing we’ll do something with G&S in it? How many of us remember music teacher Warren Schuetz?

Anything the U of I had, Uni had. We had a fabulous synchronized swim club (Terrapin) — our performances were such a fun experience (“Guide right!”), I still do kips when I swim, and I do still swim.

Orchesis, the modern dance group with Mim Rosen — we not only danced, we choreographed, we costumed, we critiqued, we performed. I still dance (albeit now folk dancing three times a week), I’m the costume mistress for our performing group, I still choreograph, I still attend performances by professional dance groups, I financially support the local university’s modern dance troupe.

We had a GAA (Girls Athletic Association) club, went to camps, were on teams, and we played our hearts out! I’m still an athlete, having played over the years in tennis leagues, volleyball leagues, and softball leagues. Even though this was a PE class (not exactly an extracurricular activity), teachers Owen and Fugita taught us ballroom dancing, and that too has continued to be an important part of my life.

I’m still a “great guy” (remember we were only girls in PE and had to learn to lead), I’m still a good teacher. I’m still a good dancer! Fencing was a noontime activity — Coach Mac Garret came over from the U of I and recruited us. I was 14 the first time I fenced. Now I’m 71 and I’m on the U.S. Veterans fencing team, have participated in numerous world championships, coached my own teams, had my own clubs, and even taught at a couple of colleges.

But wait, there’s more! My sis (Marcia Kaplan Rudin, Class of ’58) was an editor of the Gargoyle, editor of the U and I yearbook, president of her class, and of Student Council, a cheerleader (some of the things I would like to have been, but didn't manage — I was so jealous!).

There were kooky clubs if your brain was still “on” after school — math, Latin, French, etc. What about Carnival? What about the plays? What about the Spring Fling? Wow! We never went home — we were having too much fun — and I, for one, am still having fun — how sweet it was, how sweet it is!

Questions and Answers with Terry Abrahams

The following is an edited transcript of an e-mail interview with Terry Abrahams, conducted by Gargoyle senior editor Alex Zhai.

How do you think Uni has changed since you attended? Have you visited recently?

It looked pretty much the same as when I was there physically! Same old temporary gym, awful lounge, wonderful attic, etc. Kids seem even smarter judging by the newsletter you send.

What would you consider to have been the most important and/or unique qualities of Uni when you attended?

The small classes were great. Good teachers. Rounded out classes — still had art, music, etc. Attention to societal issues, not just “book learning.”

There’s a feeling among some current Uni students that their lives just follow a script: a day-in-and-day-out routine of 8-to-4 classes, extracurricular sports, and homework. We do a lot of things, but they are often the same things that everyone else does. How would you compare that to your experience? Can you describe how you spent most of your time?

Well, there has to be routine, but we seemed to be somewhat excited to come to school — there was always something going on in classes — “sound-off” where we could vent, a new French song, organizing an outside activity. We didn’t even have grades — and we studied anyway! We liked learning. Of course you do the same things others do — you may be unique, but there are certain givens in this world.

It seems like Uni students aren’t getting as much out of school and their extracurricular activities as some of you have. Is this just because we’re living it now? Did your perspectives on your high school years change significantly as you got older?

Too much computer stuff, not enough people stuff. Maybe we were different then — it’s generations ago. I’ve always had the same perspective — Uni molded me for my future.

What advice do you have for Uni students during and after high school?

Keep learning, keep socializing, stay current.