Teen Talk
First Day of School
By Jessica Small
For as long as I can remember, my parents have made a big fuss about the first day of school.
“Do you have enough pencils? Paper? Folders?”
“How many composition books do you need? How much are lockers? Where’s the planner I bought you? What about those pencils…?”
As kids, we love to complain about going back to school. We mope and whine and procrastinate finishing our summer work.
“I don’t want to read this book!”
“This math is so easy, it’s pointless.”
“I hate schoooool…..”
But the truth is that we all love it. There’s a certain thrill felt when the Back-to-School supplies lists are posted and you realize you’re getting older. It’s feels really, really good to have freshly sharpened pencils and unused pens and stacks of clean paper, binders, folders, notebooks, flashcards… Everything new. Everything yours.
In elementary school, it was always about the backpack: To get a “rolly” one, or not. That was the question. After I purchased my uniform clothes and supplies, the organization began. I would carefully determine which container and zippered pocket held what, and govern the order in which I would wear my polo shirts and head bands.
In middle school, back-to-school shopping was all about the clothes. Generic was “in.” Everyone wanted to look alike from shoes to skinny jeans to graphic T’s with a tank top under it (even though we would all sweat bullets in the humid, Florida air). My main concern? My locker. I wanted the magnetic mirror and the mini, battery-operated disco ball.
Transitioning into high school was easy. I was more than ready to have freedom and responsibility. Back to school became a combination of organization, clothes, and true academics. I had real summer work for the first time. Once I made the high school dance team, I spent a few minutes after each practice walking through the open hallways and learning my way around. The rest of my time was spent reconnecting with friends, so that I wouldn’t be alone on my first day.
This year is my last year of what I consider to be “standard school.” I’m finally a senior, and I’m finally getting ready for the next phase of my academic life – college. Back to school? It means no more leisurely days hanging in pajamas and cuddling my dog. It means I really DO need to crack down and finish “The Things They Carried.” It means I’m about to spend a small fortune on shoes and clothes and new dance uniforms and club t-shirts and my parking pass.
But it also reminds me of all the first-day-of-school memories I’ve acquired over the last 15 years. I remember my mom making special pancakes and putting a note in my lunch, even though it embarrassed me. I remember all the “stylish” outfits I wore, regardless of comfort. Most of all, I’ve noticed how quickly it all goes by. Every bad grade, meltdown, friendship, relationship, scolding, tardy pass, and lunch time conversation seems to be mashed into a big mess of past occurrences that I tried to speed through. I’m glad it all happened. It’s just scary that it did indeed already happen.
I’d love to reminisce more, but unfortunately I can’t. There’s much too much to do before I go back to school.
Jessica Small is a rising senior at Wellington High School. She is the Editor-in-Chief of her school’s online publication, whswave.com. She is enrolled in rigorous courses at WHS and aspires to study journalism and business in college. She is passionate about her high school dance team and is also the current president of thinkPINKkids.