As we say goodbye to September, it is officially the end of the back-to-school season for the 2024-2025 school year. Students all over the world consider this season as bittersweet depending on their age. Most younger students adore returning to school, getting all their new school supplies, meeting their new teacher, and reconnecting with school friends. To early elementary school students, school is a time to do fun activities, eat snacks, make new friends, and watch cool videos. However, as students gradually move toward middle and high school, their outlook on school changes drastically. They no longer view school as a fun place, but a draining and boring place. As high school students, we tend to experience the positives and negatives of the back-to-school season that rolls around each year.
When students think of school, most thoughts are not super positive. But there are certainly good parts of going back to school that some don’t consider. It is healthy for students as individuals to follow a consistent schedule each day. During the summer, students tend to fall off a daily routine which can lead to them not being less productive. Every student deserves a summer break with no worries in sight, but it is important to get back into the routine when the time is right. High school provides a level of discipline in and out of the classroom allowing students to grow and develop as young adults. Students are challenged on what they learn in each class and how they can balance their homework with after-school activities. This kind of self-discipline isn’t always applied during the summer, and students must take it on to be prepared for the outside world. Although experiencing it is difficult, going back to school will help students have a better future.
There is no ignoring the negative aspects of back-to-school because there are still plenty to consider. Returning to school, especially in high school and beyond, opens up a month’s worth of mental and physical drainage. School tends to be very overwhelming for students when they have to carry on schoolwork and extracurriculars while also taking care of themselves. Most find it difficult to get enough sleep each night or even eat enough food throughout the day. The grading system in school tends to put students down when they don’t exceed expectations, which leads to school being a place of competition and discouragement. Summer break is needed for these students who experience these challenges every week for around ten months. However, for some students, returning to school is just a reminder of the negative impacts it can hold, and it could be very intimidating to walk back into each school year.
