Sunday column: Here come the butterflies

I started second grade at STM with no front teeth!

In eighth grade, I started school without glasses for the first time since second grade.

Nick had a back-to-school experience in January 2007 for the first time in about 10 years. He's my hero!

Back-to-school time evokes one especially strong memory for me: Butterflies in the stomach.
Every year I was in school — including all four years of college — the butterflies would visit in the week leading up to that first day.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved school. I just always was hit by those first-day jitters.
When I say I loved school, I mean I absolutely adored it. I was never one of those kids who cooked up excuses to stay home or who cried as Mom dropped me off. Nope, that was my brother. He was the one who stayed home with a “stomachache” and who I had to drag into the kindergarten classroom — literally — as he cried and screamed so loudly his face turned bright red.
Admittedly, he’s come a long way since then. But, the memories of his attitude toward back-to-school will live on. Unfortunately.
Unlike him, I looked forward to everything about school: The desks, the fresh notebooks and pencils, the books we would read, the list could go on and on.
In my effort to ward off the butterflies, on the night before school started I would always try to get everything prepared for the next day. I’d hang my clean uniform on my bedroom door, I’d line up my shoes and socks and pack all those supplies in my bookbag. Then, I’d get into bed and try so hard to sleep, but year after year I never could. My mind would race with questions about my new teacher and classmates, the new material we would cover, the dreaded P.E. class and memories from the previous year.
After getting about two hours of sleep, it would be time to get up and get ready to go — sending the butterflies into double-time.
While my day-before preparations changed as I progressed through school, the general feeling of anxiety mixed with anticipation was as constant as the tardy bell.
When you’re feeling nervous about going back to school, or really starting anything new in life, it’s good to have some tools on hand to help you get through that first day.
For example, when going on a first date I would always have an “out,” just in case things didn’t go well. I’d create some excuse before the big night that I could use to bail myself out if the need arose.
Way back on my first-ever day of school, my mom gave me a tool that has served me ever since. It was the first day of kindergarten, and I was scared about starting a new school where I didn’t know anyone. In her infinite wisdom, Mom gave me some advice about how to make friends.
“Just walk up to them and say, ‘Hi, my name is Emily. What’s your name?’ ” Mom told me.
That sounded simple enough. So, I tried it. And it worked.
It is a phrase that sounds friendly and is easy to remember. It got me through that first day of kindergarten and has served me in all kinds of situations since then.
It’s an approach that can work for children and adults, and I’m so thankful to Mom for giving me that advice.
Finding yourself in an unfamiliar situation with a group of unfamiliar faces can be nerve-wracking no matter how outgoing you are. And if you’re even the least bit shy, it can be downright painful.
So, here’s to the first day of school and getting it over with. Days two, three and four are always progressively easier.
Lincoln Parish students eased into the 2008-09 school year with a half-day on Friday. Monday brings the first full school day and probably a couple fewer butterflies. Eventually, after a week or so, they’ll fly off back into hibernation, until it’s time for school to start next year.