And suddenly, it’s the first day of school. But it’s a landmark “first” – it’s Monkey’s last first day of school, today she enters Grade 12.
I don’t really remember my first last day of high school. I think it’s mostly because, for me, I was with my friends and it was only a change of venue from Canada’s Wonderland excursions or movie nights at someone’s house – now I got to see them during the day. And back then, unlike today, we had our “Grade 13” (Ontario Academic Credit) year, one more than all the other provinces. I definitely don’t remember my first day of Grade 12.
For Monkey, it’s a big year. Not only is this the year of post-secondary applications (I could say “university”, but I want to be fair to her choices, and if those choices include colleges or polytechnics, I’m fine with that), which is a big, scary moment for her … and us, I think. We haven’t gotten there, yet. But it means a lot of attention to marks.
She’s also taking on EMTV, a “news show” that the school does every morning for the staff and students, a less than 5 minute clip of highlights and news, rather than the usual announcements over the PA system. It means, for Monkey, getting up before 6am, hauling herself to school for a 7am start, and making that show. I might actually be jealous at the skills she’s going to learn, but I’m more concerned that it’s going to require a level of effort I’m not sure she’s capable of … I mean, this is the same kid who’s been actively avoiding summer jobs.
I’m going to be on her case, I know I am. I’ll be riding her grades the entire year. They need to stay high, the competition for schools these days is intense. (My alma mater, UWaterloo, is tracking in the high 90s for the program I had aspired to do and got in with mid-80s, for example.)
Choo Choo is into Grade 9. [Insert Barenaked Ladies here.] I wanted to wake her up to that song this morning, I really did, but I’ve been so stupidly busy at work that, once again, I let work override my family requirement.
So I missed their first day. I’ve never missed it before. Of all the years, I missed this one.
I’m going to look back at this in a few weeks, months, definitely years, and curse myself: why did I do this? It’s one day, the world wouldn’t have ended. I let the wrong responsibility take over. Things I need to keep in mind for my New Years’ resolutions, I guess.
Let the “last” year begin…
