Early Life
Drawn To Student Government
![15 year old Shirley Shirley Schlanger as a teenager](https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/015-VB-EL-Shirley-age-15jpg-260x150.jpg)
Shirley enjoyed participating in student government activities at Hunter College High School. She worked long and hard on several campaigns.
High School at Age 12
![011 VB-EL PA01_0010 Shirley Schlanger as a young girl](https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/011-VB-EL-PA01_0010-260x150.jpg)
Shirley excelled academically, skipping several grades in school. She started Hunter College High School in New York when she was just 12 years old.
A Great Love of School
![022 VB-EL SSA young Shirley Schlanger studying with a friend](https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/022-VB-EL-SSA-and-Seymour-REALLY-young-1024x732-260x150.jpg)
Shirley loved going to school. When not at school, she preferred to be home. She hated going to summer camp and did not like sleepovers.
Injustice at the Library
![012c injustice age 11 Leo Schlanger and daughters](https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/012c-injustice-age-11-260x150.jpg)
Shirley lived in New Jersey for a few years during grade school. The public library refused to give her a library card because her family did not own property. She thought that was unfair.
An Influential Teacher
![013_updated Shirley Schlanger and her sister as young children](https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/013_updated-260x150.jpg)
Shirley’s favorite grade school teacher was Miss Hauptman. In her civics class, Hauptman stressed constitutional rights, even for minorities. Her class made a big impression on Shirley.
Fashionable Clothes
![009 VB-EL PA01_0008 Shirley Schlanger and her sister wearing cute outfits](https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/009-VB-EL-PA01_0008-260x150.jpg)
While living in Poland, Shirley’s mother was a talented seamstress. In the U.S., she worked in the family store, but she continued to make clothes for her girls.
The Future Lawyer
![Shirley, age 5, holding a puppy in front of her home Shirley Schlanger as a child holding a puppy](https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/006-VB-EL-SSA-5ish-260x150.jpg)
When Shirley was 4, she wanted to be President. At age 6, she changed her career plans. She decided to be a lawyer. Her parents never discouraged her.
Future Teacher?
![007b-Shirley-age-5 Shirley Schlanger, her sister and another girl](https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/007b-Shirley-age-5-260x150.jpg)
As a young child, Shirley wanted to be a teacher. She lined up her sister Roz and her dolls and tried to teach them. Roz wouldn’t sit still, and Shirley gave up on teaching.
Homework in Kindergarten
![Young Shirley posing for a picture Shirley Schlanger as a child at the pool](https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/005-VB-EL-SSA-3-260x150.jpg)
Shirley’s sister Roz was an athlete. She played basketball and liked riding her bike around the city. Shirley, on the other hand, loved going to school and enjoyed reading in her spare time. Her mom said she was the only child who claimed to have homework in kindergarten.