For our matriculants the school year is fast coming to a close, as they bid farewell to each other before writing finals. The last chapter in their school lives.
Not a week goes by that my son doesn’t envy them. As he turns a darker shade of green with envy: “Ah ma I wish it was me – I cannot wait to leave school”.
All my pleas of : – “Enjoy these days, as one day you will miss them!” most certainly fall on deaf ears.
I have such fond memories of my school days – albeit they were many centuries ago. I recall the year we relocated from Johannesburg to Durban. On my first day at my new school in Grade two, the teacher introduced me to the class. I sat next to a little girl with long pigtails and shiny black school shoes. As I sat there trying not to wallow in self-pity at being the newbie – I concentrated on the story the teacher was reading to us, about Carol and Roy and their dog named Rover, when I heard her interrupt the story:
The little girl sitting next to me had raised her hand.
“Yes Charmaine – what is it?” Miss Anthony asked.
“Miss Anthony – I don’t sit next to cry babies” replied Charmaine
Well dear reader – that was me! A quick turnabout – a casual swipe to clear away my big crocodile tears and I was a totally new kid!
More than 30 years later – Charmaine and I are divided by many seas – but still besties of note.
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I, like every other mom have been privileged to relive the school years through my two sons.
It’s amazing to see the developments through the years. Chad works with a tablet now – that took some getting used to! The first month or so – as he left for school each morning my husband would remind him not to forget to his tablet. I would rush behind him asking why he needed a tablet, was he feeling ill? School projects – homework – everything these days is done with the assistance of computers, tablets etc. Google is part of the family.
When Ryan was at school – we were more prone to using the library to assist us with school projects! And boy oh boy did I always find a way to get involved – so much so that the project would become MY PROJECT! The only thing I never did was write my name on it! Wow and right there I can recall some real blunders! Like the time Ryan had to do a project on Cheetahs! As I enthusiastically took charge of the project – looking through magazines – yip you read correctly – in those days we actually used to have to page through magazines for hours on end as we sourced the various pictures that were needed for the project!
Anyhow, I proudly found the relevant photos and stuck them onto the cardboard – labelled them – I did it all! I just knew that Ryan would be coming home with an A++++ FOR SURE! ……
Luckily the night before the project was due my hubby happened to walk past the dining-room table and check out “mom’s handy work” ……. OH boy! Thank Goodness for that.
In all my proudness (and glory) I had not noticed one enormous Faux Pax!
The pictures were that of a leopard and not a cheetah! We as a family had to hurriedly page through the magazines all over again to find pictures of Cheetahs!
And what about the time – he came home and said the art homework was to carve a fish out of bar of Sunlight soap (the green laundry bar). Ah I jeered “That will be a piece of cake” … well firstly it was way more tricky than I had ever anticipated! The soap continually breaks! Finally I was done with my master piece! Ryan returned a couple of days later! He got a dismal 28%! I was horrified! “Hmmm” I harrumphed – “clearly the teacher had no idea of true creative talent”.
Ryan is now twenty three and is the first to admit – the best years of his life where those spent at school! Funnily enough he is back at school – and loves everyday spent back in the class room and sports field with his amazingly awesome kids!
Chad is in grade 11 and is still counting the hours till he waves a huge good bye to the classroom!
Matriculants – I wish you well – study hard and go give it all you got! After all it’s your future. Whether you chose it to be a successful one or not, it is totally up to you.
BUT for those still in Grade 00 or in primary school or even Grade 11 – take heed of my words and enjoy your school days because they truly are the greatest!
