By Missi Swanson
Editor’s Note: Missi Swanson’s mother, Lori Srodola, was a Mini-School student back in the early years of the program. Mini-School daughter interviews Mini-School mom.
When did you start attending Mini?
My junior year in 1974.
Why did you decide to go?
I wasn’t going to school regularly, I skipped a lot, and I needed a fresh start, a new attitude.
Who were the teachers here at the time?
Doug, Randy, John, a lady teacher, I can’t remember her name, and Lester was a student teacher.
What was it like? The rules, attendance policy, administration pressure, length of the day, variety of classes, general attitude?
I think it was probably the same as it is now….except we weren’t as weird as you guys!
Do you still keep in contact with any of your friends from Mini-School?
Yes, some.. but these friends were friends before Mini-School.
Approximately how many students were in the program at the time?
About 35
Do you feel you were singled out by hall monitors or mainstream staff because you were in Mini?
No, I was singled out because I was a brat.
If you had to do it all over again would you change it and stay in mainstream?
No, the Mini-School staff taught me that I had potential, that I was a real person with weaknesses and strengths. They made me want to succeed – I never found that in mainstream.
How do you feel about the program?
I hold the highest respect for this program, it did wonders for me and many others. It’s an exceptional program.