Seventh-Day Adventist Kindergarten: Fill & Download for Free

I was raised in the Seventh-Day Adventist faith. I went to SDA schools since kindergarten until my first year of college where the incident took place. My high school was a co-ed boarding academy complete with pink and blue sidewalks. There was lots of prayer, praise, and illicit sexual activity at the academy, and even though my mother kept the faith that I was a good Christian girl and protected by angels, she was a realist.My mother and I had “the sex talks” as soon as I was old enough to speak. She scheduled my first pap smear when I started my period at age 13. My mother, a totally hip mom in the 1970s, bought me O.B. tampons.At age 18, when I was at university, I was having a routine female exam with the general physician at the student health center. Technically, I was a virgin at the time. As a result of the thorough sex education I received at home, I delayed “surrendering” myself to a boy until I was in a proper adult relationship, and didn’t have vaginal intercourse until I was 20 years old.In the doctor’s office, I hopped on the examining table, and assumed the position, patiently waiting to place my heels in the stirrups. The GP looked at me. He remarked I obviously was not a virgin, as I appeared to be very relaxed in his office.During the examination, the GP looked up, and said with great surprise, “You really are a virgin- you still have your hymen!”

Junior Kindergarten in Seventh Day's Adventist English High School.

“What is the greatest privilege you've ever experienced?”I realized my privilege when I got into college because of my socio-economic status (SES).There was no real prestige involved. I was applying to the undergraduate program of Eastern Michigan University (EMU), a 3rd-tier school. But EMU has a first-rate theatre arts program and I was a theatre nerd.I completed my basic courses at Washtenaw Community College (WCC) and was ready to transfer to a four-year college. I had an appointment to see an EMU admissions advisor to review my school application and give me a priority admission decision.Within 15 minutes my knowledge of the power having the ‘right’ look and the ‘right’ name was reinforced. Within 15 minutes, I was sensitized to the intrinsic value of social capital and its ability to make you ‘one of them’ regardless of race or gender- bona fide privilege.I was apprehensive about the meeting’s outcome. I already had a poor college experience and mediocre grades. I had been expelled from Andrews University, a Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) university, during my freshman year.In his office, before he began the conversation, the EMU advisor looked at me and I recognized the look of approval. I dress very well and this occasion was no exception. However, I got the sense my good taste in fashion was not going to be enough to get me into the theatre program.I prepared myself to leave empty-handed UNTIL the advisor noticed on my application where I attended high school.“Ah-hh, he said, I see you went to Adelphian Academy for high school. That’s a private school, right?”I said yes and clarified it was a Seventh-Day Adventist secondary academy.But he insisted, “That’s still a private school right?”Okay, I said.Since the advisor seemed so pleased I went a private high school, I thought I would give my application a little boost and volunteered that I also attended SDA kindergarten and elementary schools.The advisor looked amazed.“You mean to say, you NEVER went to public schools?”Not until I got to community college, I said in my best hoity-toity voice.“Well…, that makes a significant difference. Your last name is Mayes. That’s Scottish, right?”Uh-huh. [I had no idea].“I’m Scottish too. I imagine you are of good Scottish stock.”Uh-huh. [Still clueless]“I’ll be frank with you, Andrea. Your grades are not that great….”At this point, the advisor leaned back in his chair. He smiled broadly at me and said,“However, I can see you will be a successful student here at EMU if you apply yourself. Welcome to Eastern Michigan University.”So this is what it’s like to be an honorary white person, I thought.Damn!