Back To School With States' Mindy White: The Pizza Stick Eating Tomboy

States singer Mindy White seems like she was a very busy young lady back in her school days! From marching band to playing on the softball team, this brunette beauty did it all. Check out what she had to say about her high school experience and these adorable vintage photos from kindergarten and her senior year. AMAZING! 

What were your extracurricular activities?

I was into everything. I took Honors classes, did cheerleading for 2 years before turning tomboy. I was a SERIOUS softball player from age 5 until Junior year in high school when I was forced to try out for show choir (then, later wondered what I'd been doing with my life before singing... haha) Did both marching band and concert band for trumpet, clarinet, colorguard, & rifle. 1st chair too! haha. Also played basketball and ran track one year til I realized I was the worst runner of all time. Literally did everything. haha

What was your high school's mascot? 

We were the Raiders aka a dude in a fancy wig on a horse. I always wished we were something cooler though, like the DARING DRAGONS or the UNIMAGINABLE UNICORNS! Man, how cool would that have been?

Did you ever write down a REALLY ridiculous answer on a test?

One time I drew a detailed picture of our grouchy teacher as a monster on the bottom of a test, along with dialogue. I don't remember why I didn't realize it was going straight to her afterward. She wasn't very impressed.

If you could have gone to any fictional high school, which one would it have been? 

Oh easy. I loved The OC series. I would have killed to go to The Harbor School in hopes to date Seth Cohen and have the beach closeby everyday. :)

Favorite place to hang or hide at your school?

My Jeep. I would go out to it during lunch for naps or texting, haha. I also drove to school early just to have time to relax and listen to music before having to full-blown sprint to class. But it was worth it to blast Brand New, Mars Volta, Underoath, The Used, Taking Back Sunday etc. in the parking lot every morning before enduring school. The best times

What did you usually eat for lunch? 

I ate horribly back in those days. Now I'm vegetarian and can't believe what I used to eat, but pretty much I would eat anything put in front of me. So, I was one of the weird ones loved school lunch! My usual meal was something like mac & cheese, 'pizza stick' or a burger/chicken 'patty', nacho cheese covered fries, Welch's 'juice' drinks, and we had these huge under baked (aka perfectly baked) soggy 50 cent chocolate chop cookies that I got everyday. We also had Papa John's pizza there in a separate line, so if the school lunch was too shady looking, I'd hit the pizza.

Were you ever bullied?  If so, how did you deal with it?

I had really really hard time from 3rd-9th grade. I was a huge tomboy, obsessed with sports, and an only child with an incredible imagination. I think everyone just thought I was super different and weird (which I was) and used it as fuel against me. It's the typical cliche bully story. I sat alone at lunch, and was in my own world all the time, but it definitely hurt a lot. I wasn't oblivious to the fact that others were calling me names and making fun of my clothes and such. Around 9th grade I'd finally grown up some more, made my own style, and eventually found myself with the help of music. It had always been a huge influence in my life, but I think the biggest point was when I found out about local rock shows, and was able to go and meet people just like myself. I know that's a big reason why I love creating it now is because it's the one thing that saved me, and I hope to crate something that can potentially save someone else.

What song, band or album do you most identify with your high school experience?

That's so hard! It's probably a tie between Brand New's  "Your Favorite Weapon" and Coldplay's "Parachutes" Those records were my escape from everything going on around me. I found them at the perfect time. I still listen to them both constantly. Jesse Lacey just has a way with lyrics, and such a rad voice. And why Coldplay, well, that doesn't even need to be said.

What was the most trouble you ever got in, and what was it for? 

I was pretty much always a good kid. I was never really in trouble. I think the most I did was got caught once hopping the fence for a football game in high school. I think the games were like 10 dollars each and I wasn't paying that. I didn't even like football. I was only going to people watch, eat cotton candy & nachos, and see friends. But a friend and I found what we thought was the perfect spot, jumped over, and immediately saw both our assistant principle and the school rent-a-cop-security running at us with their walkie talkies in air. hahah. We had detention for a week and my parents were disappointed in me.

Which high school from a music video would you want to go to? 

Uhh, obviously...Britney's Spears "Hit Me Baby, One More Time" ! There's nothing better. I remember thinking how beautiful she was in it and wishing I could wear her outfit to school and look that good. The dance scenes! That video was groundbreaking. Plus she was dating freaking Justin Timberlake, my heart. Hi Justin.

States' debut album, 'Room To Run' will hit stores October 18th! Be sure to keep up with them here on Buzznet and see them on tour this fall!