Sarah ZF - Roughrider Sans Rough
Because sometimes those who educate also inspire.
I get around. No…not like THAT!!!! Getcho’ mind out the gutter.
As a child we moved around a lot and then I was a foster kid the majority of my tweens and teens. My freshmen year in high school I attended Bend Senior High. My sophomore year found me at Crescent Valley High School. My high school days also found me enrolled at Lincoln, Jefferson, Roosevelt twice and a second enrollment at BSHS also. It’s been a minute, but if memory serves it was 5 different high schools in 4.5 years with two “repeat offenders.”
My days at RHS hold so many fond memories and I love living back in the school’s neighborhood, albeit gentrified as hell. Being back in the neighborhood has reminded me of so many key players that made life significantly better then and especially now
We might get into the .5 years in another piece. Right now though, we’re gonna talk about one of the most inspiring people I met while a student at RHS. Back then home of the Roughriders but now they are just Riders and Sarah ZF still rides for me so it fits
One of my electives included journalism. Our journalism teacher was also the yearbook teacher/editor too. I remember learning Page Maker on a Mac and staff meetings to address ideas/assignments for articles. I remember my first deadline being my second day in the class. I’d be lying if I told you I remember what the article was about but I do remember I shared a byline with Raquel Buenaflor. Later that year, we both got to write for the student produced edition of The Oregonian. It was an experience I’ll never forget.
Mrs. Friedel…she tossed me straight into the fire with giving me my first deadline so quick. Of all the students she could pick/nominate for that Oregonian gig she picked me. I couldn’t forget her if I tried but she’s quite unforgettable actually. This is her:
Of course I love her a little extra cuz she’s rocking my favorite color in her hair, but that’s just the icing on the cake.
She thought she was teaching me the mechanics of journalism. Things like style, interviewing skills, page layouts and margins, the importance of being above the fold, advertising, properly quoting someone, how to protect your sources, write catchy headlines and the like. What she actually did was inspire me.
Because she allowed and encouraged us to think (and subsequently write) outside the box, I was inspired to think bigger. As I developed bigger thinking, pretty soon I couldn’t be contained.
I was inspired to be bold and daring. I was inspired to trust my instincts and flair. She inspired me to be unafraid and edgy, to write about tough topics and ask the tough questions.
I remember doing an article about gang members that spanned several columns. It was edgy and raw. It was filled with sensitive information that was deeply personal and most of the young men I interviewed spoke to me under conditions of anonymity. Mrs. Friedel didn’t judge me, the subject being written about or them. As editor-in-chief she simply addressed errors in the copy not the content. The more I “freelanced” my contributions, the more confidence I developed. As a writer sure, but more importantly as a person.
She inspired me to believe in my capacity to not just survive, but succeed gloriously by overcoming adversity. She shared her addiction story with me with a message that basically effectively amounted to if she could slay her dragon, I could slay mine too. Even though the language used was different, the message wasn’t lost on me even now nearly 35 years later.
She inspired my ability to understand that one day at a time is not just for those in AA or NA and that the serenity prayer can apply to victims of abuse and trauma too. She inspired me to understand life is more about what we do with what happens and not so much what happens to us. She inspired me to always bet on me.
As if all of this wasn’t more than enough, she and her husband were my foster parents at one point too. They gifted me one of maybe half a dozen birthdays (out of more than 50) that wasn’t horrible. Together they inspired my love for simple things. A boat ride under gray skies up the Columbia River stopping briefly at Government Island, a comfy pen that writes well and a pretty journal, a soft blanket and cozy fire, a good meal with people who love you, baking (Mrs. Friedel, if you’re reading this how do I get another one of those cakes?), a hug you didn’t have to ask for, the power of a smile, a hand of comfort on my shoulder or leg, both the subjectivity in and beauty of abstract art, and so many other things.
Although undeniably one of my favorites of the Roughrider staff, there’s nothing rough about her. She inspired softness and beauty and authenticity. She inspired me to be true to myself and helped me learn that life can be really hard and really beautiful all at the same time.
I don’t think I’ve ever told her this but she’s also one of the first adults I ever trusted completely and she’s never violated that trust even once. Fun fact…she is still inspiring me actually. More than 30 years later, she still pours into my cup without her even knowing it. Inspiring and pouring is just what she does.
Sarah…am I grown enough now I can call you that? Nevermind, it kinda feels weird even just typing it actually. I don’t think I can do it ha ha ha.
Mrs. Friedel, I’m not sure I ever told you this before but your inspiration and influence has never been lost on me. Thank you for loving me when I felt the most unloveable. Thank you for being unapologetically you so I could see what that looked like. Thank you for seeing me as a diamond when I felt like coal. Thank you for going above and beyond your job description and for all the everything you inspired and invested in me. I am better because I had and have you.
Stay tuned y’all…I’m probably also going to tell you about Herr/Monsieur Janke, Stein, Mz. Nic and good ole Mistuh Washington. That early 90’s Roosevelt faculty was 🤌🏽 for sure. Janke actually has photos of my class still from back in the day, Stein had me rocking former Oregon Senator Packwood to his core and Mz. Nic for real did the Electric Slide with us. She was my coach too..in speech and debate cuz yeah me and words go together. Pretty much always have. Mr. Washington got me sponsored for Close-Up where I met the teenage boy who would make me a mama 5 years later almost to the day. Each of them unforgettable in a myriad of ways.
And lemme just be honest, although I graduated from Jefferson High School home of the Democrats, I will forever be a Roughrider at heart.