First Day of School, First Day of School!

On the way to Greenville Forward this morning, I was listening to the morning show djs talk about buying school supplies and the extensive preparations parents often make to get their children ready for the dreaded/beloved first day. Depending on who the kid is, this process is either really exciting or really excruciating.

I must reveal a little bit of my inner nerd here and admit that I was definitely in the "excited" camp every year. Listening to the radio and hearing parents calling in and talking about buying glue sticks and notebook paper brought back waves of excitement that have been there for the past 17 or so years. Oddly, this is the first year since I was two years old that I am not going to school...because I am DONE....(for now, anyway).

But, listening to my teacher friends talk about prepping for today, seeing all the signs for back-to-school deals at local stores, and even hearing the busy moms at my YMCA aerobics class yesterday chatting about their new fall schedules somehow allowed me to get caught up in all of the excitement even though I am not going anywhere.

I am reminded of the part in the fantastic film, "Finding Nemo," when little Nemo chants excitedly, "First day of school, first day of school!" I am certain that there are plenty of kids out there today that had this nervous enthusiasm about starting school for the first time, or getting to move up to middle school, or being old enough to try out for a varsity sports team.

I know, however, that this is not true for every student and that there are many who won't show up for the first day, or the first week, who do not want to be there or who may simply not be able to physically get there due to circumstances beyond their control. Because of this sobering fact, there is an organization in Greenville dedicated to reaching out to these kids. It is Graduate Greenville and this Saturday, they will visit the homes of students who did not show up to see how they can help them get to school.

The program is called "Opening Doors to Success" and it was created in the hopes that a personal visit by someone in the community who really cares about their education wants them to realize that going to school is that important. The program also tries to help families with the obstacles preventing their children from going to school.

Our staff is going to participate this Saturday and I know we are all looking forward to the chance to express how crucial an education is to having a successful future.