Hurley shares memories and advice at DLL graduation
In 1951 Representative Pat Hurley graduated from the 5th grade at Park Street School, now known as Donna Lee Loflin School. Looking back on that special day 60 years ago, Hurley shared her memories with the 2011 fifth grade students on their last day at Loflin.
Hurley told the students and their families she grew up in a house on Sunset Avenue and Donna Lee Loflin, the principal of the school now named after her, was one of her neighbors. While both of their homes are no longer standing, she recalled fondly growing up in Asheboro and attending Park Street School.
Hurley prepared a PowerPoint presentation of photos from her time at Park Street School, along with the help of a few of her classmates like Tommy Kemp and Bob Caviness. She shared that girls had to wear dresses to school and boys wore knickers or overalls. Photos included classroom pictures and several May Day celebrations, once a tradition at the school. She also pointed out the classroom windows were open, as they had no air conditioning.
At the end of her presentation, Representative Hurley shared a special photo of the AHS Class of 1958 class officers, all were from her 1951 5th grade class, including Hurley who stated she is “still the class secretary after all these years.”
With the help of her classmates, Representative Hurley presented a special Memory Book to each of the 5th grade students filled with favorite memories, well wishes and advice from her 1951 classmates.
Hurley closed with this advice, “you have many choices and decisions ahead of you, choices that will affect you for the rest of your life. Get your education, choose your friends wisely, and dare to be different. Respect yourself, your parents and your teachers. Get outside and exercise. Get involved in band, chorus, art, or sports, and always treat others the way you want to be treated.”
Each student ended their last day by keeping the Loflin tradition of ringing the school bell as they left for good luck.