My photographic memory

I've known about it all of my life, heard about it, saw others wow over it. It's been my claim to fame, one of my most identifiable traits throughout my entire life, especially in high school. It's my amazingly good memory.

Over the years, I have memorized many, random facts about information. Many of them for school, many just for the heck of it. This is the type of thing that has helped me excel in trivia competitions (see the previous blog for that) Stuff about the U.S. Presidents, high school and college mascot names, children's names of friends and co-workers, birthdays, songs. The most amazing and perplexing (even in my mind) is when I memorized nearly everyone's schedule back in high school. I accomplished this feat for 6 straight years at Blacksburg High School (it is an extremely small high school and was 7-12 back in the 90s with around 600 students).

Many have asked how I did it. I was honestly never 100 percent sure how. I know it wasn't a mathematical formula, quadratic equation or the like. I then decided to break down how I did it.

I was extremely close with the guidance office and guidance counselors. I initially had access to student schedules, which faciliated the process. That was then evasive and a little trivial for me. I then used another unorthodox but less creepy method. You see, the guidance office had a matrix/grid of all the teachers at Blacksburg High School, their schedules persay. What classes they taught, the classes offered, when they taught them, and when their planning period was. There were 8 periods at BHS: one being homeroom and another one being lunch. Therefore, each student had 6 classes (or 6 periods to occupy 6 classes, one could even be an early dismissal period in the 8th period). The teachers actually taught 5 classes/day, with the 6th period for them being their planning period.

Having this information in hand, I would then be able to construct a student's schedule in my mind. I basically used this information and the process of elimination to see which classes they had, did not have, and could only have during a certain time. For example, if they were taking French II and French II was only offered during 2nd or 8th period, I knew then which class they had for one of those timeframes. A schedule was easier for classes such as band, home economics, or an AP class, since only one of those were offered. I then knew the ONLY time they could take this class and when the class would take place. Of course I would have to know a little about the student also. The small school aspect worked well for me here since pretty much everyone knew everyone else. You knew who the smart kids were, the band students, vocational school students, so you knew what types of classes a student would take typically. There were certain curriculums for college prep students and for vocational students. The only dilemma then was fitting in the electives and various other pre-requistes they needed to graduate and such. Once I would figure this out (this would take anywhere from 2 weeks to a month of just random observation, NOT stalking, and talking with folks about classes and listening to them talk about teachers and such). I would then know their class schedules and would often not forget them for that school year, or years to come.

So there it is BHS classmates (and anyone else interested). That's how I memorized the schedules. It was said that I had a photographic memory, meaning I could automatically retain what I saw. This was often not as easy as someone like me that could retain hundreds of student schedules would make it appear.

I'm truly blessed at 32 to be able to remember what I can. I can no longer remember too many student schedules anymore. I do still remember U.S. Presidents stuff and other random information though. Many of the schedule information was retained and learned over 14 years ago. Consequently, it is since been discarded from my mind and memory. People would be amazed over it and still are. There are teachers that to this day tell their current students about me. My former classmates (some of you reading this blog) would tell their friends, spouses, and children. It was definitely an amazing ride.

I have found, however, that NOT many folks outside of Cherokee County understood or were amazed by all of this. Sure they thought it was great that I could remember all of this info. But they were creeped out about it. Like "how does he know this about a person and why?" I guess it was a BHS thing, I'm not sure.

My mom once asked after my 10-year high school reunion when that's all folks could discuss regarding me was the schedule thing "Is that all they remember about you?". I would like to think not. Once again, I believe it was my claim to fame, and my identifying trait. I felt that's how I left my mark in Blacksburg. I don't see it as a negative thing either. Not to be judgmental, but I would rather be remembered for that than for being a thug, rapist, hoodlum, slacker, or not be remembered by all. In short, I'm cool with being remembered for remembering stuff.

I really want to keep the good memories of my past close to my heart, as this world is filled with enough negativity. I think back to those times with fondness, as I had a gift, and folks recognized it. It was a cool time to be young,and it's good that I was more highly regarded than I ever thought I would be years ago.

Now if only my blogs would be remembered like that. But hey, that's another story for another day. I'm just thankful for the positive things that people do identify me with.

Trivia: just a sucker for random knowledge

Random intelligence is a part of the various pieces I write weekly. Heck it’s the title of my blog and weekly column.  It is only natural to include trivia in this mix.

Ever since at least the age of nine, I've had a fixation on random knowledge, information and facts. I've been good at learning, retaining, and spitting them out on queue since then. I can strangely remember useless info easier than I can remember to stop by the store on the way home for a gallon of milk or whatever.

There's something about trivia/quiz challenges/academic smack downs and the like that gives me a rush. Strangely enough, I don't watch a lot of Jeopardy. I like the show, and I can answer many of the questions on a given night. However, that is strictly academic knowledge. My trivia expertise is usually stuff from bar trivia nights or the "Trivial Pursuit" games, such as U.S. History facts, sports stuff, pop culture, and other random things.

I started doing Quiz Bowl in the 6th grade, and then become really competitive at it over the next few years. I was typically a fixture on the Quiz Bowl teams in my grade, and was even a team MVP for my Energy Bowl (9th grade science bowl) team. Unfortunately, after high school, I didn't find many avenues to fulfill my inner-appetite for random info. That is, until 2007 when I was invited out to Daddy Joe's BBQ and Grill in Gaffney for Thursday night trivia. I have to admit, I was nervous at first. It had been years on top of years since I had participated in trivia. I had to see what the format was, what types of questions were being asked, etc. Heck, I didn't even actually play until 2008 because I wanted to observe and get a good partner. Granted, I will play trivia with pretty much anybody. But if it's competitive, I want someone that's going to be able to answer the questions I can't, and be as balanced at trivia as I am.

I found this guy that was pretty much my trivia equal. He knew much of the science stuff also, being that he used to be a science teacher. We combined as a two-man team and we were tough to beat. We were the guys that no one liked because we won weekly, sometimes in convincing fashion. We also have 2 out of 3 trivia tournament championships under our belts. Good times, good times.

 

Daddy Joe's took a hiatus from trivia as Shag Stepp, the owner, decided to focus on cornhole tournaments. During warm weather, Daddy Joe's has outdoor music on the patio with local artists such as Jeff Gates and the Rock and Poppyseed Boys. Granted I enjoy the music and overall company at Daddy Joes. Had it not been for trivia, I wouldn’t have made wonderful connections and had all sorts of fun. I still had a void to fill though.

 

Now trivia is back at Daddy Joes! Shag has partnered with Team Trivia, a company that goes around to various bars and restaurants in the Carolinas conducting extremely challenging trivia competitions. It is more of a team, discussion format, rather than the game show style with the buzzers.   I have reunited with my regular trivia partner, plus a few more like minded people, and we have began playing weekly again.  We typically come in the top 3 weekly, and recently finished #1. The moderator was so impressed with me individually that he invited me to fill a spot in a regional trivia competition in Brevard, NC in a few weeks. I feel honored and humbled to be able to test my knowledge on a larger scale.   It’s a different format, but it’s one I like.  My trivia desire has been fulfilled, and it’s good to see others get involved. 

 

So come on out to Daddy Joe’s one Thursday night around 7:30pm and play some trivia with us sponsored by Team Trivia.  They have a website with a daily question, http://www.playteamtrivia.com.  You can either be on my team, or form your own team and test your wits against mine.  Either way, it should be loads of fun.