<Begin Segment 7>

AI: Well, I wanted to ask you a little bit about what life was like for you when you were in your high school years. And if you could just describe what a typical day might be like -- like when you first got up in the morning, what was your routine? And a little bit about what your high school was like, and some of your activities.

KO: Well, I think -- it's hard to remember back that long, but I was always involved in, with the newspapers and sports. 'Course I was too small to play any sports with the big boys, but there were teams that we formed among ourselves. I think our school day was probably just typical. 'Course we got involved in politics a little bit. I think I remember ending up as student body president, which was... [Laughs] I don't know how that happened, either. But, yeah, there was... I think it's just a typical American high school situation.

AI: So you were in student body politics a little bit, you were working on the school newspaper.

KO: That's correct.

AI: And what were some of your favorite sports? What were you most active in?

KO: I liked tennis. 'Course back in those days, unlike now, you had to create your own entertainment. So, we would form teams and (compete) with different parts of the city. Kept ourselves pretty well occupied, and I can't remember too often being bored with life back in those days, like I hear kids say nowadays, "Gee, I'm bored. I don't have anything to do." And it just amazes me that people can't find things to keep themselves busy.

AI: Because you always had plenty to do.

KO: That's right. I had always had things to do with friends. I guess I was lucky that I had good friends. And they would, we would always do things together, and if they happened to go on a picnic, they would take me along, and my brothers, my sister. Things were, I think for those days, it was a good school life for me.

AI: Pretty happy it sounds like, and not really, sounds like not too many worries?

KO: Well, I think the main worry was wondering what my dad was doin'. [Laughs] Yeah, because he was one of these people who, if he had any money in his pocket, he had to do something with it. [Laughs]

<End Segment 7> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.