Back to school is almost bittersweet
By Jamie Smith

I remember how, as the new school year approached each year, we would head to Target to choose our school supplies. I loved it. I still love school supplies.

Back then it was important to make sure I got a wide assortment of puppy folders and a couple more by Lisa Frank. The glittery folders were more expensive, so we only got a couple of them. But those were the folders to have. Anyone remember Trapper Keepers? Those were cool, too. Although I think I enjoyed the cloth versions more because you could cram a lot more into those zippered binders.

As an adult, the first day of school took on a different meaning for me. See, I accomplished my childhood dream of becoming a journalist. I quickly learned as a general assignment reporter that my favorite beat was education. My second “grown up job” was as the education beat reporter for the Benton County Daily Record. For seven years and 10 months, I interviewed about, wrote about and at times it seemed breathed about education.

As each new school year approached, I made sure I prepared readers for what was to come including features on each school district. I also reminded people about back to school traffic, something that I even wrote about on my blog last year.

After being laid off from my reporting job a few years ago, I couldn’t help but still be aware of the school year calendar. I always knew when school started, always knew when school elections took place. Part of me was a little sad that it was no longer a part of my life, but I also couldn’t help but chuckle at all the stories I saw the new education reporters have to write-or when I’d see a controversy come up that they had to cover. All I could think was “hahaha not my problem!”
Then came this year. I even went school supply shopping for a Champions for Kids SIMPLE Service project. But somehow this year the start of school really snuck up on me and I have to admit, I was sad. Sure, school supplies are still cool but I couldn’t help but feel like “where did summer go? Why can’t the kids have more time?”

What were your feelings about back to school this year? Do your feelings vary now that you’re an adult compared to when you were a kid? Leave a comment!

Jamie Smith writes over at JamiesThots.com where she shares about faith, family, food and just a whole lotta thots!