Parents stick close by while their kids board the bus to school.

The smell of leather, old sweat, and Fritos is something I will never forget.  Along with the energetic bound up the steps and the somewhat nervous scan of the prospective seats, there are happy, sad, surly and excited faces staring at you as you make your way down the aisle.  Ah, memories of the first day of school, and that tormenting yet exciting bus ride to the final destination.  Yes folks, that’s right, it’s time to go back to school.

As far as we adults go, I believe that we have all done a little editing to our school years. We’re not remembering the dread of going to school and of having to sit through one more boring history class.  Nope, we remember the “good old days” – you know, laughing, joking, and making good grades effortlessly; in other words, having the time of our life.  How quickly we old ones forget.  Oh yes, it is still quite torturous for many to go back to school – not for all of the kids, but at least half dread it more than a huge pimple on prom night.  

I was able to speak to a number of children this summer on this delicate matter. “ So, are you ready to go back to school?”  I found that the simple question itself could bring forth a variety of emotions; excitement, shyness, nervousness, and happiness; and of course, passive aggressive behavior rolls off of the teenagers like too much cologne.   

The most excited group is by far the upcoming kindergarteners.  They are just precious as they talk about meeting new friends, playing with new toys and having a “pretty teacher” (that one was my favorite).  They can’t wait to go to “big school.”  They are ready to embark on this adventure that will eventually lead them to being a “grown up.”

Second grade through eighth grade varied.  I found that most boys were less excited to go back to the “boring” world of school (boring being the most popular adjective).   When asked what they didn’t like about school, it was mostly the same answer, involving having to sit a desk for the majority of the day, and yes, their favorite class just also happens to be gym.  However, the girls were excited to go back to school and talked endlessly about back- to-school shopping and seeing their friends again.  A huge common denominator for all the kids was seeing their friends again after the long summer.   

As I said before, the teenagers hardly acknowledge that I exist, so when I did get an answer that was recognizably English, I was ecstatic!   The upcoming high school freshmen just break my heart.  They are the ones most affected by this monumental day.   The social ladder has been erected at this point, and they are about to find out which rung they will live on for the next four years – excruciating!  One boy was excited about trying out for every sport available, yet nervous about the homework.  Another was telling me how scared he was because “all of the boys were bigger than he was.”  The girls were all nervous wrecks, about clothes, boys, and one was even worried about dating already!

I laughed softly to myself as I heard the thousands of reasons why they do not want to go to school from “my teacher smells like burnt hot dogs” to “it’s just so boring.” They are so wonderful, all of them – yes even the mumbling, surly teenagers who actually smile when you aren’t looking.  So as they go into another school year, remember, here are their hopes, their dreams, and their futures.  Take what they say into consideration and help them by telling them your “first day of school” stories, the real ones.  Go back and try to remember the way it really was: scary, exciting, abysmal, but above all, hopeful.  Yes, let’s send them all back to school on September 2 with the prayer that before anything else, they will be filled with hope that this new year will be the best one yet.  

news@villagepublishing.com | 751-0421

© Copyright by Village Publishing

Top of Page                                              Comment on This Article

The Village News office is located at 4607 West Hundred Road Chester
Mailing address is PO Box 2397 Chester, VA 23831
Phone: 751-0421  Fax: 751-9155
Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday call ahead for other hours.
Statement of Journalistic Ethics