No Time to Snooze, That's the Tardy Bell

August 26

A nd.... we're back!

It's time for me to trade in my beach bag for a book bag, exchange my Lakeside summer pass for a Student ID and remind myself not to hit the "snooze" button on the alarm clock. The next time a bell sounds I won't be skipping for the ice cream man but scurrying to get to English class on time. Yes, indeed, the new school year is already knocking at my door and, surprisingly, I can hardly wait.

One of the things I look forward to most about the first day of school is how everything is brand new. Whether it's a notebook, classroom, an attitude or even a fresh No. 2 pencil, the idea of starting off with a "clean slate" gives me confidence for the upcoming year. As a sophomore, I will be given the chance to take a few courses I've never experienced. For instance, in my second block chemistry class I will be discovering what really makes those beakers bubble and what Fe represents in the Periodic Table.

I'm also eagerly anticipating that, officially, I'm no longer a "rookie." That's right, the torch of youth has been passed. Now that I am a seasoned veteran of GHS, I'll be expected to help find classrooms, open jammed lockers and most importantly welcome the class of 2010 to GHS.

Additionally, I'm thrilled for the return of weekends to their treasured status, especially those Friday nights when a home football game is on the schedule. What could be better than spending a cool summer night at Van Dyke Field with a big crowd cheering our team to victory as the horn section of the Marching Streaks blasts out "The Silver and the Gold" from across the field?

Yes, for the eleventh time in my life, school has begun. My spare time is no longer spare, my crossword puzzles will soon be replaced with chemistry formulas, and my leisurely breakfast will go from a slow bowl of Lucky Charms to a barely defrosted, out-the-door Eggo. I will once again be playing beat the clock to accomplish all the deadlines, homework assignments and activities while trying to keep my hair looking somewhat presentable. Bring it on!

New Year School Year Relatively Bump-Free

September 2

Ping! Ping! The painful sound of gravel pelting car fenders as faculty, students and sports fans drive around the perimeter road at Galesburg High School is now in the past. Pleasantly paved streets, a foreign language and a refurbished lunchroom are all recent updates in my daily schedule at GHS.

Those pesky pebbles, clinging for life at the edge of the road, only to be flung into the grass by future NASCAR drivers are no longer. They were exchanged this summer for a smoother, sharper-looking blacktop drive, complete with anti-Indy 500 speed bumps. In turn, my fellow classmates no longer stress about careening their new Mustangs or Jeeps through deep, treacherous potholes leaving a cloud of gray dust to hang in the air.

As for the foreign language, may I say French class is going "tre bien" (very well)! My teacher, Monsieur Nusbaum, gave everyone the opportunity to choose their French name on the first day of class. Now I'm not sure if it's from reading all of those "Peanuts" comics or watching re-runs of old television shows, but the name "Lucie" caught my eye in a heartbeat. Although I could never be mistaken for an actual native of Paris, I have learned a couple general statements in French, such as "bonjour, ca va?" which is "hello, how are you?" and "au revoir" which is "see you later." Outside of class, I'll try to throw in a little bit of my newfound vocabulary here and there when I converse with my parents or chat online with friends.

In the middle of French, my classmates and I head downstairs toward the cafeteria for B lunch. Like the