The
shine of a brand-
new school year wears off as we settle
into a routine of classroom instruction, homework, and tests.
When the cool breeze of fall welcomes us back to school, we can fall into a pit of
anxiety. Academic questions arise, like who is going to be in my classes? Who is going to teach
me? What if I don’t get good-enough grades? For pre-kindergarten and the rising sixth and ninth
graders, there is an added pressure. They must adapt to an entirely different curriculum, teach-
ers, and responsibilities as they take another step to become either an elementary, middle or a
high school student. For all of us, there is a social aspect that we inevitably face, and we must ask
questions such as, what if I don’t get included in any of the “groups”? How do I get “accepted”?
What if I can’t make any friends in my classes?
Fall isn’t usually welcomed by us as it can bring a rush of anxiety. However, it is important
to remember that fall is the time when we are filled with the residual energy of summer. It is
the time to find a new piece of your soul -- your passion that stirs you up from the inside -- be it
dancing and singing up on the stage, stepping onto a court to play a sport, being a club leader, in-
volving yourself in student government, or simply doing whatever you love and enjoy. The exciting
part is, during fall, you can choose to push yourself to be the kind of person you would like to be:
a thespian, an athlete, a club leader, a writer, a musician, or anything you can put your mind to.
If you are an elementary or lower secondary student, you could have pushed your limits in
soccer and swimming -- embracing the physical challenges, improving skills, and growing a pure
love for the sports as an athlete -- so as the upper secondary athletes who are involved in cross
country and volleyball. If you are in love with performing arts, the outstanding production of
Snow White and the Prince would have allowed you to be up on the stage, work on the lighting
during the performance, or show your passion in arts through set design or makeup. The Fall Con-
cert provided performance opportunities for those who have a great passion for music. If you are
a lower secondary student in love with food and cooking, Masterchef Junior would have allowed
you to explore your culinary interest while competing against the thirty minute clock.
The important part is, by accepting risks to be involved in activities, you can strive to become
whoever you want to be. Don’t let the cool breeze of fall bring anxiety or discourage you. Only
those with the courage to openly live their dreams can ever hope to find lasting sat-
isfaction with their lives. So follow what you want, be yourself. There’s
absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.
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