Back to School…
Holidays are enticing only for the first week or so. After that, it is no longer such a novelty to rise late and have little to do.
Margaret Laurence
Because, of course we were very happy at school really. The trouble was that we were so much happier in the holidays. AA Milne
For many children, teens, and young adults, this is the time of summer when the school year starts. The more fluid schedule of summer shifts to the more steady routine of the school year.
Most students feel an ambivalence about the resumption of the school year. There’s an anticipation of seeing casual friends and acquaintances after a summer apart. The fun of new school accessories such as clothes, backpack, and school supplies. For some, maybe even a cell phone for the first time. On the flip side, it’s hard to give up the relative freedom of summer to a rigid school schedule which includes getting up early every weekday. Some students like the idea of classwork, particularly when they get to choose some elective classes. Others dread the academic challenge ahead, not feeling confident to being up to the task.
For high school students, there are other factors too. Many students are involved in sports or performing arts so there is the excitement of being part of a team, though the practices and events make for long days and often spill over into weekends. The social aspect of high school, as students transition from young teens to young adults, fills some students with eager anticipation while others are anxious about the social scene.
It’s not just students whose lives change dramatically with the start of the school year, but their parents (and sometimes grandparents or other caregivers) and teachers & school staff. Parents who are working outside the home find themselves juggling work, taxi services for kiddos, monitoring students’ progress, and spending time watching their children/teens in sports, concerts, or theatre.
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As we begin the school year, it’s a great time to encourage any students, parents, or school staff in your life circle. Even if you don’t have much direct contact with those populations, prayer is always good!
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