05 | September | 2011 | Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde

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I love this time of year. The traditional end of summer and then the start of a brand new school year always make me anxious for a fresh start. This time of year, I regret having grown up at all. Throughout my childhood I had a love/hate relationship with school. I hated some of the social aspects of school as kids can be cruel, but most of the things I hated about school were easily overcome by my love for learning. I’ve always loved learning. I also love the structure of the school day. There are simply some things that I can’t get out of my blood.

Ever since the weeks before starting 4^th grade in 1990, I’ve literally dreamed about going back to school just prior to starting a new school year every year. This continued even after I graduated from Michigan State University in 2004. In fact, I just had a version of the back to school dream last week. After graduating from MSU, the dreams took on a new dimension.

The dream is usually similar to the following. I find myself in my high school, as a student, after having already graduated from college. I fit in with the high school kids physically due to my height. At first it isn’t apparent exactly why I am there. I then learn that there is some kind of mix up with my high school transcripts. My high school diploma is null and void due to no record of completing one class, usually a math class.

Even though I only have to complete one high school course, I always have a full schedule, and there are always complications. I find myself unable to even open my locker, find a class, or locate homework. I am late for class due to an incorrect schedule or a locker mix-up. I then end up wandering the halls aimlessly, confused.

Many times I find myself in math class unprepared. There are either piles of math homework to complete, not knowing where to begin, or better yet, I have to take a math exam that I am not prepared for at all. This is normally when I wake up in a cold sweat. What haunts me is the lack of answers. Not one teacher in my dreams can tell me what I need to do to move on from high school hell. That is perhaps the worst nightmare of all.

Happy new school year to all teachers and students! Here’s to organization, manageable schedules, and punctuality. May you always know where you are going and where you have been.