What school did you go to?

For junior high — we didn’t have middle school at the time — I was in Barnwell Junior High. I graduated from Parkway South High School.

How was your childhood homelife?

It was pretty good. We were a typical middle-class family. We didn’t have a lot of technology, so we played together. We had to use our imaginations. Everything was pretty good and normal until my parents got divorced when I was 13. That sucked, but looking back now, at my age, I can understand why the relationship didn’t work. 

What has changed, what hasn’t?

I’ve noticed positives and negatives. Parents are more involved. My parents weren’t because we didn’t have a lot of money. The one thing I think that parents do a little too much is make sure [that] their child never hurts physically, mentally or emotionally. Sometimes, with pain comes growth, and when everything doesn’t go your way, you learn really valuable lessons. You become resilient. I also think that parents are not as racist and bigoted. My grandparents and my family said things that I would never think or say now. People are more aware. Parents [nowadays] also do a really good job of trying to be not just a parent that’s a disciplinarian, but a parent that is also someone that you can trust. 

When did you know you wanted to be a teacher and teach this subject? 

Ever since I was a little girl, “teacher” was my favorite game to play. I would spend hours being a “teacher.” I had a little chalkboard [and] I made up worksheets [and] student rosters. I had a little stapler and everything. When I was a babysitter, I always made the kids I was babysitting my students.

Gallery • 3 Photos

Photo courtesy of Angela Frye

English teacher Angela Frye poses for a photo in Greece. Frye had been traveling with Trans World Airlines as a flight attendant. “I was very poor and I had a studio apartment in Dogtown. I had pictures of Europe in my apartment. I remember being so bored and so hungry that I broke down and bought myself a pizza. My pizza was $11 and I had to give it all in change because I did not have enough money. The newspaper was still delivered [at that time], and I opened up the newspaper and was looking through it [when] one advertisement said Trans World Airlines was hiring. I [thought] I would never go anywhere and get to travel [because] I have no money, so I thought [to] give [the job] a try. They did hire me and they showed me the world. It was one of the best times of my whole entire life. I left college, saw the world and then went back to college. If I hadn't done that, I would have never been able to have gone anywhere,” Frye said.

Tell me a childhood story that always makes you smile.

Just memories of my brother because now he’s gone. I think about all the times we played with Hot Wheels for hours and hours together. When Star Wars came out, he owned all the Star Wars toys, and I remember playing [with them] with my brother. [They were] good memories because we didn’t have anything else to do [but play] with each other.

What things make you nostalgic when you see/hear/smell/ feel them?

The smell of certain foods makes me feel nostalgic, especially for my dad’s cooking, who also passed away. I love the smell of summer. I like the sound [of] snow or rain [and] old country music.