Back to School
No matter how old I get, there’s still enough of the kid left in me who thinks summer is a magic word and August is the “beginning of the end.” Summer was the Promised Land of no homework, longer days and later bedtimes. Endless opportunities existed in those hours of freedom: entire days spent at my cousin’s horse barn or on the river with my best friend; taking trips to the beach; reading books that I actually wanted to read; and catching small creatures that nature and my mother never intended as pets. The world was subject to my every whim.
But inevitably at some point over the summer I would start to squander my freedom. After the 100th rendition of “I’m bo-ORED, give me something to do,” I could tell my mother was seriously debating the merits—and potential legal ramifications—of locking me in a closet. School started to sound like a pretty good idea, and it came with its own unique opportunities (not all of which were academic, but usually educational). As excited as I was for the onset of summer, I was always a little thankful to see it end. So was my mother.
Although I was a kid, I still understood that change is good. Even fun can develop its own rut, and I believe we are better able to appreciate something when it exists in moderation. Perhaps this is why it took me just a little longer to really appreciate school.
Image by Emilie Eagan
Tori is a student intern who will be working with the Thankfulfor team over the summer. She is a senior at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she is studying graphic design.
