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Published on 09/15/1999 All articles from this issue

The first day of school is always a 'memorable part of childhood'

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By Jeff Eisenberg

Once again, it is September. The air is crisp and cool, the trees explode with brightly colored leaves and football fans still maintain visions of gridiron glory for their favorite teams.

However, for those of us who still are not old enough to vote, September is not just about raincoats and running backs. It also marks the beginning of the new school year.

September is unlike any other month. If March roars in like a lion, then September slithers in like a snake. From the moment that school lets out in June, it always lurks in the shadows of summer waiting to strike once the August heat begins to wane.

Often September will subtly remind students that it is looming nearby. An occasional back-to-school sale or beautifully colored leaf will serve as notice that autumn is approaching.

Despite the forewarning, the end of summer inevitably catches most students unprepared. Many scramble into Office Depot the night before school starts, hoping to find a new binder or notebook for the first day of classes.

Then upon arriving at home that night, many students will curl up in front of the television or talk to a friend on the telephone as the last few hours of vacation waste away.

As students crawl into bed to go to sleep that night, the ease of summer will slowly fade into the responsibility of the school year. As the alarm clock rings promptly at 6:30 the next morning, all traces of summer vanish into September's doldrums.

However, intermixed with that gloom is a fresh, new feeling of hope, like the smell of a new car when it is driven out of the dealer's parking lot. This emotion may only last a week, a day, or even just the initial drive to school in the morning, but it is definitely evident.

The excitement that comes with the first day of school hardly overshadows the dread that accompanied this event throughout the summer. However, this promise of a fresh start is synonymous with September just like Labor Day or the start of football season.

The first day of school will never be popular among students, but it is a ritual that is a memorable part of childhood and growing up.

Jeff Eisenberg is a junior at Pinewood School in Los Altos Hills. He lives in Los Altos.