Returning to school can be a fearful experience. It takes a few weeks before school even starts to get motivated and settle down after summer vacation. Beginning with the first day of Kindergarten, a new chapter unwinds in a five year-olds life. They’ll be away from mom and dad, and those hours can seem like an eternity. Not to mention they’re in a room full of strangers with some of them probably crying. It usually doesn’t take long for those fears to go away.
Adolescents entering middle school carry fears of getting lost, new teachers and students, homework, and changing classes in five minutes. In elementary school they were at the top of the school; everyone looked up to them. They were the ‘big shots’ of the playground, and the other kids wanted to be like them. Now, they find themselves at the bottom. After a couple days in their new school their fears leave. They didn’t get lost, and if they did it wasn’t a big deal like they thought it would be. Meeting new kids was fun, and they could already tell which ones would turn out to be friends. It also turned out that some of the teachers were actually ‘cool’ and well liked by the students.
High school seniors have their fears, too. Not long ago they were entering high school, but now they’re facing a whole new chapter in their lives, with a lot of questions to go along with everything else they have to deal with. What college will they go to? Who will they go to the Senior Prom with? Will they go into the military? With that comes another question. Will they have to go to war somewhere in the world? Before their final year of school starts, many questions and fears haunt them as they come face to face with adulthood.
Adults, too, face fears of returning to school. Whether it be a young single mom or an inquisitive senior citizen, they face some of the same challenges and fears. They may wonder if they can keep up with the work. Can they get into the routine of studying? Will anyone else be their age? Will the young students make fun of them? As with the adolescents entering middle school, adults may also wonder where to go when they get there. Will they get lost on campus?
Rest assured that after a few days the kindergartner will hop into class, and the middle school student will even have time to chat with friends between classes, and do it all in less than five minutes. The high-school senior will find a prom date, and look forward to graduation and their future as an adult. Senior citizens will learn that they can share their knowledge with the younger students just coming into college, and realize that no one is laughing at them. It doesn’t matter what chapter you’re in. If you’re five years-old, thirteen, eighteen, middle aged, or a senior citizen, you may still face the fears of returning to school. The best part is that the fears can be overcome and pride can stand in it’s place.
