"The pride of West Elizabeth, Jefferson Hills and Pleasant Hills Boroughs..." comprise the West Jefferson Hills School District, and is home to Thomas Jefferson High School. Otherwise known as "T.J," this school and community located just south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, are unique and wonderful in all the right ways. If you attended Thomas Jefferson High School, you can relate to some of these signs that set T.J. apart from the rest.
1. You have seen enough sea-foam green to last a lifetime.
Staring at this color every single day for four years can take its toll. Especially when that color reminds one of a 1950s mental institution.
2. When you went to other high schools, you were amazed at how nice they were.
And you also wondered, "Why can't we have nice things?"
3. Actually getting to school was enough workout for the entire day.
It was even more interesting to try and walk up the junior hill with ice and snow when the school district ran out of salt.
4. You never had to swim in gym class.
But what about the pool on the third floor?
5. You actually know all of the words to the Alma Mater.
Thank you, ninth grade English class.
6. The word "chipawtle" has meaning to you.
Due to an unfortunate, yet hilarious, mispronunciation on the afternoon announcements, this fond term is a synonym for Chipotle.
7. Being part of "The Jungle" was the highlight of Friday nights.
Because our student section is clearly the best in the W.P.I.A.L.
8. You will never forget the horrid smells of the hallways, or the back center stairwell.
Whether someone spilled expired milk or the foods of the cafeteria filled the halls, the school never smelled desirable.
9. You sped down Old Clairton Road in the mornings in an attempt not to have your parking pass punched.
10. Your worst fear was rain on graduation day.
Because NOBODY wanted to receive their diploma in the T.J. gym. And you always pictured your graduation something like this:
11. When you and your friends wanted to hang out, you went to eat.
Because what else is there to do in T.J. besides go to Sheetz on Route 51 (no, not the one in Pleasant Hills).
12. It was the best day ever when your senior road sign went up.
Whether for football, band or tennis, this neat T.J. tradition is something you always looked forward to to symbolize four years of hard work.
13. You own more T.J. gear than you know what to do with.
T.J. is a school that loves gear. And if you were slightly involved, you have a surplus of anything from basketball sweats to band T-shirts or a T.J. football shirt, even if you didn't play football.
14. A natural disaster during the school day was nothing out of the ordinary.
The ceiling could fall in on you, a black mold outbreak may be occurring in the history hallway or the entire school could be flooding, but this is just another day.
15. Your high school was the perfect combination of large and small.
T.J. was small enough that you knew almost everyone, including faculty and staff, in the entire school, yet large enough to offer great variety of extra-curricular activities and academics. It really was the best of both worlds.
16. You know how football can bring an entire community together.
Football is truly an identity of T.J. The entire community comes out on fall Fridays to support the team and cheer for the black and gold. Also, it doesn't hurt that we have an awesome program. Whether you love it or you hate it, it cannot be denied that a Friday night in "Jag Nation" is a very special place to be.
17. Even though you couldn't wait to leave, you miss T.J.
As much as you say you hated it, you loved going to T.J. and being part of it all. And you are so proud to say this is where you went to high school. Once a jaguar, always a jaguar because tradition never graduates.
