The legends I heard my freshman year about the coming years of high school have, for the most part, been proven wrong. It didn’t take me long to realize that lettering in prom if you attend all four years is a rumor or that getting trash-canned as an underclassman is less than likely. However, there are some legends, myths and stories that have stuck throughout my time at BHS and it’s about time that they are cleared up.

1. Four Years Of Gym

Every year I’ve been at BHS I have heard at least a few students state their remorse for incoming freshman who are going to be subject to four years of gym. However great it may feel to think you have dodged the bullet, don’t put too much faith in this rumor: it isn’t going to happen anytime soon. As all of the high school counselors will tell you, this is nothing but a myth.

2. Taking AP Classes is a Mistake

Another myth. If you receive advice that, “colleges prefer students who take their specific courses rather than students who take college accredited classes in high school”, you probably shouldn’t listen. Although some colleges are worried about your retention rate and may not accept all your AP scores, this shouldn’t deter you. AP classes prove to colleges that you have an understanding of what it will take to succeed in college and that you are well prepared.

3. Pigs 1,2 and 4

This is one of my personal favorites, and it’s not just a myth. According to the former English teacher Mrs. Thompson, the pig prank involved one of her students. Early in the morning students placed 2 pigs in the school and labeled them 1 and 3 (The main difference between the legend and the truth is the number of pigs, I had always heard there were three pigs). The pigs were quickly caught but teachers continued their hopeless search for pig number two. Of course, there was no pig number two, everyone had a good time and over all it was a prank BHS should be proud of.

4. There Used to be a Junior Bench

Also true. However, junior bench was not taken out as a senior prank as I had heard. The bench in junior hall was taken out by Mr. Saunders because the hallway was so crowded, which isn’t hard to imagine since its hard to get through junior hall this year, without a bench in the way. Senior bench is a completely different story though. Senior bench was taken out a couple years ago as a senior prank and burned at a bonfire. So why is it still around now? According to Mr. Neely, “their reasoning for the senior prank was compelling enough that the school decided to replace the bench”.

5. Sleeping on the Roof

Don’t start getting ideas, but it has been known for kids to sleep on the roof of the school. According to Jim H. Thompson, he heard footsteps on the roof one night as he was grading papers. He went outside and told the kids he would give them ten minutes to leave before he would call the cops. Ten minutes later, the kids were gone but Mr. Thompson reported the incident to the principal the next day. He was informed that in the past the “sleeping on the roof epidemic” had reached such a high level that they had to hire security guards.