Were you popular and sporty in school?

Loved PE played for the school hockey and badminton teams. Was fairly academic but not a swot- hated exams and had major panic attacks days before taking them.
Think it stemmed from having it drummed into us that 'O' levels were the most important set of exams we'd ever take as they were our stepping stones to a 'successful' future.
After I'd taken my 'O' levels the panic subsided to an almost 'laissez-faire' attitude by the time I sat my finals at uinversity!

I was neither sporty, nor academic nor was I popular! At primary school I was generally top of the class, then I had Scarlet Fever, back at school I decided I just couldn't concentrate, but it turned out I couldn't hear very well, no one noticed my problem so I just fell behind more and more. I eventually decided I had to leave home, ironically as a Post Office telephonist (I had no idea I had a hearing problem) in London, I loved the job. My dad was disappointed I didn't fo to university and do medicine - his dream, mine was to work in a dress factory and start with pattern cutting, but dad wouldn't have his daughter working in factory. I now acknowledge I am deaf and wonder what life would have been like if only we had known!!

I loved team sports and did pretty well at that in school. My friend hated team sport. But as we got older and too old for teams she took up cycling and hiking long distances. Now in out 60s she is the most active and the fittest. I struggled to continue an active life, missing the team element. I do gym and some walking. Sometimes l think it's easier long term to be a solo player.

At Junior School I was never popular, but I was well liked by pupils and teachers and I flourished academically, as well as being an accomplished all rounder. I loved school and would have lived there if I could.

At Grammar School I was an oddity for all sorts of reasons to do with my home life, my out-of-date uniform, prolonged absences from school etc.- and I hated sports because of the endless opportunities it provided to expose me to ridicule and petty bullying.

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