A Certain Point of View, Too

42 Years Ago, in a High School Not So Far Away (A Tempus Fugit Gig)

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by

Alex Diaz-Granados
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42 Years Ago, in a High School Not So Far Away….

Late Morning, Tuesday, June 17, 2025 — Miami, Florida

“It was only high school, after all—arguably one of the most bizarre periods in a person’s life. How anyone emerges well-adjusted is nothing short of a miracle.” — E.A. Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly

A long time ago, on a college campus not so far, far away… a commencement took place.

Today marks the 42nd anniversary of my high school graduation. Back then, things were different. The school year began in late August and ended in mid-June. Middle school was called “junior high,” and high school lasted three years—10th, 11th, and 12th grade—unlike today’s traditional four-year trek from freshman to senior.

The world itself was a different place. The Soviet Union—what then-President Ronald Reagan famously dubbed the “Evil Empire”—still loomed, its authoritarian grip and formidable nuclear arsenal ever-present in the backdrop of the Cold War. Though my generation rarely discussed the prospect of the conflict turning hot—no duck-and-cover drills for us—those of us drawn to current events and military history understood that any superpower crisis could spiral into World War III.

Cultural differences stood out as well. Cable TV was gaining traction, but in 1983, most television was still “free”—funded by advertisers—dominated by the Big Three networks: ABC, CBS, and NBC. Subscribing to cable meant better reception in areas plagued by weak signals or terrain interference, or access to recent theatrical releases and adult content deemed unfit for broadcast. Ted Turner’s Cable News Network (CNN) was still in its infancy—only three years old on my graduation day—and I wouldn’t see it until visiting friends in Green Bay two years later. For most Americans, the major networks remained trusted sources of news, long before terms like “lamestream media” entered the conversation.

Personal computers were also rising in popularity, thanks to machines like the IBM PC XT, Commodore, and the Apple IIe—but not everyone had one. I wouldn’t get my first computer, a newer model of the Apple IIe, until 1987, courtesy of my dad’s younger brother, Sixto, who bought it for me for college. Even though government agencies and academic institutions were connected to what would become the internet, widespread commercial use was still years away. On June 17, 1983, none of today’s digital conveniences existed—no social media, file-sharing, online shopping, streaming services, or even Pornhub (which was still decades away).

Things That Were Different 42 Years Ago

  1. Fashion Crimes Were Rampant
    • Shoulder pads were basically portable armor.
    • Acid-wash jeans looked like they had survived a chemical spill.
    • Flashdance convinced people that sweatshirts belonged off the shoulder—and apparently ripped for dramatic effect.
  2. Hairstyles Were a Structural Feat
    • Perms and mullets roamed freely, unchecked by good judgment.
    • Hairspray consumption was so high, we may have single-handedly punched a hole in the ozone.
    • If your hair wasn’t teased to the heavens, were you even trying?
  3. Pop Culture Was a Shared Experience
    • No algorithm dictated what you watched—everyone consumed the same shows at the same time.
    • Missed an episode of MASH? No streaming, no DVR, just regret.
    • MTV actually played music videos.
  4. TV Had Three (Maybe Four) Channels
    • ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS if you were lucky.
    • Cable was a luxury, mostly used for better reception or catching movies long after their theatrical run.
    • No binge-watching—you waited a week for a new episode, like a true survivor.
  5. The Internet Was Still a Sci-Fi Concept
    • No social media, no online shopping, no endless supply of cat memes.
    • If you wanted to talk to someone, you called them. On a landline.
    • The closest thing to Google was asking your mom.
  6. Music Was a Hands-On Affair
    • Albums came on vinyl or cassette—no instant downloads.
    • If a tape got tangled, you performed surgery with a pencil.
    • Mixtapes required patience, perfect timing, and deep knowledge of FM radio schedules.
  7. Movies Were an Investment
    • No streaming—if you wanted to see Return of the Jedi, you went to a theater. If you missed it, good luck waiting.
    • VHS releases took years (Jedi didn’t hit home video until 1986), and they were shockingly expensive—$79.99 for a single tape. That’s Blu-ray box set money.
    • Most tapes were pan-and-scan, meaning part of the movie’s original widescreen frame was missing. If you wanted the full picture, you either waited for LaserDisc or made peace with cropped cinematography.
  8. Phones Were Dumb, and Proud of It
    • No texting, no apps—just a rotary dial and a cord long enough to trip family members.
    • If you wanted privacy, you stretched that cord into the hallway and hoped for the best.
    • Caller ID? Nonexistent. You answered every call blind, unsure if it was your best friend or a dreaded sales pitch.
  9. News Had a Schedule
    • No 24-hour cycle—just the evening news and the morning paper.
    • CNN was new, and most Americans trusted network anchors like Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather.
    • No doomscrolling—if you wanted to be stressed about world events, you waited for the 6 o’clock broadcast.
  10. Kids Were Free-Range
  • No helicopter parenting—kids roamed until streetlights flicked on.
  • Playdates weren’t scheduled; you just showed up at a friend’s house and hoped they were home.
  • If you got lost, you asked a stranger for directions. Somehow, everyone survived.