Governor’s School Tryout
©1987 Craig Ashby
Mixed media
6″ x 4″

Governor’s School Tryout is an ancient keepsake from high school. This was number I was given for the audition in Winston Salem, North Carolina. The tryout got me in and so I kept this object as a reminder that sometimes I can win.

High school was a nightmare. Daily bullying and constantly being called a faggot. To say that it was almost unbearable is an understatement. Thoughts of suicide were regular.

It wasn’t just my classmates. The administration of the school participated. The principal just died recently. Too bad he didn’t live long enough for me to name him in a class action lawsuit. Bastard.

It amazes me that nobody ever caught on. Suddenly a bright straight A student is doing Cs and fighting all the time. Negligence is understatement for North Carolina Schools.

So along comes this opportunity to go to a haven for the gifted. My own little Hogwarts. I never win anything but I did and it changed my life and got me through that last year of high school.

It was great. I was liked and loved and popular for the first time ever in my life. And only one asshole called me a faggot that summer. He was quickly dealt with.

Not to say that my feelings haven’t changed over the years. They have changed due to weird run ins or lost friends. But still it is one of my best experiences ever.