OAKLAND -- Dr. Joyce Boykin was born in Oakland, raised in Berkeley and was the first African American student to attend the Anna Head School for Girls, now known as Head-Royce.

"My mother said she'd seen a notice about admission to Anna Head placed in the UC Berkeley alumni magazine," said Boykin, who attended the school from first through 12th grade and graduated in the class of 1968. "Although my parents were not educators, they saw the big picture and knew that a good education would be essential for one to succeed in life."

Boykin went on to earn a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California and a master's in public health from UCLA. After receiving her doctorate from Tufts Medical School in Boston, she returned to Southern California -- "which I love" -- and practiced as a general internist for 30 years until her retirement. She still lives there with her daughter, Lauren, and grandson, Dominik.

Boykin said her experience at Anna Head was generally good. As kids do, she remembers the small things, like the 10:30 a.m. snack period, which Boykin thinks was pretty innovative for the time.

"The bell would ring, and all the students from upper and lower classes would gather 'round the table for snack -- usually cookies and apple juice."

On the other hand, she recalled that some students were "racially intolerant."

"At times, it did not feel inclusive due to my race," Boykin said. "Occasionally, I would

However, she recalls, not all the families were intolerant and she was invited to other classmates' birthday parties and sleepovers.

"One of my classmates had an extra ticket to see the Beatles and invited me to go," Boykin said.

To be transitioning between white and African American cultures was a unique experience, Boykin recalled. During the week, she was attending an all-white girls' school, yet she would often visit her godmother in an all-black, working-class neighborhood in West Oakland, where she also attended church.

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Boykin was pioneer at Oakland's Anna Head