When August comes around, we all know what that means: back-to-school season is upon us. For many parents, this is a busy, exciting, and of course, expensive time, as you run from store-to-store trying to get the best deals on school supplies and uniforms. Kids are probably sad summer is over, but excited to go back to school and see their friends. Some households may start “practicing” heading to bed early (as mine did). First day of school outfits, hairstyles, and haircuts are being planned and executed days before the highly anticipated moment. You as an adult may be watching from the outside wondering, “What does all this have to do with me?” If you keep reading this blog post, I’ll tell you about four things you can learn from this season.
Fresh Starts Don’t Only Happen on New Year’s Day
Every year, many people think about things they want to do better/differently during the new year. We take it as an opportunity to have a fresh start, set some new goals, and break/build certain habits.
Back-to-school season, however, is a great example of a fresh start that is not during the new year. As many students are starting a new grade level, this endeavor may introduce them to a new teacher, new friends, and new challenges. As adults, we can learn from this. We can decide that any day is a great day for a fresh start. So, I challenge you not to wait for the new year to come around to set some new goals. You can start to build new habits right now!
Your Growth Deserves to Be Celebrated
If you’re a parent, guardian, or family member of a student starting the school year, I’m sure you’re familiar with the much-loved first day of school pictures. Even if you do not have a kid directly in your life, you probably don’t have to spend much time on social media before someone you follow posts one of these pictures. Teachers also wait to welcome their students, and they put a lot of effort into making this special day enjoyable.
These gestures that I just described are ways that students are celebrated for growing up a little and embarking on a new journey. Your growth deserves to be celebrated too! Notice how students have not done anything for the school year yet, except show up. Their showing up is a big deal, and so is yours. The next time you start a new challenge, or accomplish something you worked very hard at, try to celebrate. These celebrations don’t need to be big. You can take a picture to remember the moment, tell your loved ones about what you have accomplished, or get yourself a little treat.
Generosity Goes a Long Way
During back-to-school season, there are many opportunities to donate to school supply drives, volunteer at a back-to-school bash, or help a teacher set up their classroom. These gestures of generosity, whether it be monetary or time wise, are playing a role in helping students have a good school year. When students attend school, they are learning new things that will ultimately help them grow into productive members of society. School is just one piece of the puzzle that contributes to a young person’s development. It’s not just the academic portion that helps, but it’s the responsibility, development, and respect they get to practice during the year as well.
When you generously give of your time or money to help students have a great school year, you are ultimately contributing to their success. No matter how small your gesture may be, your generosity goes a long way. This is not only true for school. As the historian Howard Zinn once said, “Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.” Do not underestimate the power of your small acts of kindness.
It’s Okay to Invest in Your Goals
The last thing I want to share with you is that investing in your goals is a good thing, and you should do it as long as it’s within your means. As discussed earlier, back-to-school season can be quite expensive, due to buying school supplies and clothes for the new school year, as well as possibly paying tuition. We all know it’s coming, and it is very necessary. These are ways that adults invest in children’s goals to do well during the school year. There are also other extra-curricular activities that students participate in that require monetary and time related investments. Whether it’s a student club, instrument, or sport, these are all activities that require investments.
Your goals as an adult matter too! Whatever goals you have, I suggest that you find ways to sustainably invest in them. You may be able to thrift or rent certain supplies or take group lessons to cut down on costs. You may even try learning something by using YouTube for free! If your goals are fitness related, you may consider doing at-home workouts and daily walks instead of getting a gym membership. When it comes to time, start with what you can handle, and grow over time. There are so many ways to invest in goals in a sustainable way. I want you to meet your goals, and I believe that you can.
Conclusion
Even if you are not going back to school, there are lessons that you can apply from this season. Turn a new leaf whenever you need to, celebrate your growth, don’t underestimate the difference your generosity can make, and don’t be afraid to invest in your goals.
By: Madison Beckford