Back To School: The Many Perspectives On The End Of Summer

Back. To. School. These are three simple words on their own, but when strung together, they’re capable of causing the widest range of emotions. However, your reaction to the phrase “Back to School” depends on where you are on the spectrum of life. 

For children, it means buying new clothes and school supplies. It may mean a scary new adventure in a new school.

On the other hand, it may mean reuniting with pals after the summer break. Regardless, the phrase is full of the fun and potential of learning new things and discovering new interests. 

For adolescents, back-to-school has simply become part of the cycle of life. It means the end of summer’s long, lazy days and the beginning of after-school activities.

Whether it’s sports, music, dance, or theatre, the return of the school year means getting back to the hobbies and interests that are just beginning to bud at that age. Oh yeah, and it’s also about learning stuff in the classroom. 

Teenagers look at Back to School as the beginning of the end – the end of the beginning.  In high school, academics are a little less carefree as the realities of adulthood start to creep in.

For some, it’s all about qualifying into the college of their choice; for others, it’s about making sure they have the skills to land a job after graduation—but for all, it means getting ready to say goodbye to the people and places that have become so familiar. 

Young adults continuing on to college or university see Back to School as back to the dorms, all-night cram sessions, hanging out with friends, and back to spending their parents’ money for “higher” pursuits – and hopefully preparing for better jobs. 

For the teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, janitors—and the many others involved in the education of the next generation—back to School simply means back to work after a summer break. 

Parents may react differently depending on their children’s ages. It may mean a tearful send-off on the momentous first day. It may also mean a party in the backyard now that there is some peace and quiet in the house again. 

For those who work from home, it can mean returning to productive hours during the day. It can simply mean returning to the routine of normal life after a fun-filled summer. 

For empty-nest retirees, it means getting back to having the open roads, movie theatre, and restaurants to themselves again. It also means watching the hustle and bustle of school buses and SUVs down the street while they enjoy that second cup of coffee in their slippers and robes. 

However, the pursuit of knowledge need not be limited to the younger generation. Lifelong learners can relish going back to School to continue to learn and discover new things regardless of age by leveraging technology to study from the comforts of home. 

Have a great new school year wherever you fall on the Back to School continuum!

About the author

Karen Foley is a professional photographer who enjoys learning and writing. See more of her work at Dreamstime.

Approximately 24 million students are transported to and from school daily by bus. Click here to teach your child the elements of school bus safety.