Back to School

Well, it's happened again, summer somehow flew by. As much as I love the freedom of the summer months, I love back to school time. LOVE. Maybe the first time I see the"back to school" signage in Target I cry for those lovely summer days when I eat hotdogs with spicy mustard and watch real housewives all day. But after my tears dry, I AM PUMPED.

Back to school time combines several of my favorite things: lists, organizing, brand new school/office supplies, school, books, and teachers. Lists are the greatest. I wish I still got a back to school list so I could go to Staples and just crush it with my organized, list conquering abilities. It would look something like this. With me as the dad. There is nothing better than crossing items off a list. Nothing.

Nothing except beautiful, untouched, brand new school supplies. A stapler full of staples. That classic bouquet of sharpened pencils. How reams of stacked paper look. New white board markers are an addiction. A perfectly organized desk. I haven't been a student for 4 years, but I still go back to school shopping. This is acceptable because I work in education. Perks.

I genuinely miss covering my textbooks with brown paper bags. Actually, I miss bribing my sister to do this for me, because I never had the patience or ability. But I miss brown bag covered textbooks. So. Much.

I also just really like school. A lot. I think that's 95% of why I got a teaching credential. If I could be a student forever, I would take that gig pronto. Education is like friends (or oreos) you can never have too many or too much. I like the beginning of school, I like finals week, I love love love graduations. I just can't even with graduations I love them so much.

Just to be clear: I do not like math. In fact, I strongly hate math. But I tolerate math as part of education and accept it. Let it be known that I took as little math as humanly possible in my school days and barely earned passing grades. I just thought I should put that in here in case any of my old math teachers stumble upon this and think, "LIAR! Brenna hated her Algebra 2 class! Off with her head!" You're right, I did hate that Algebra 2 class. Because Algebra 2 is stupid.

I think J.K. Rowling loves school too, because Harry Potter is basically a love letter to education. Education = Magic. There is nothing more true in my opinion.

So, on that note, here are my favorite "Back to School" Films with links to my favorite clips to get you pumped for school or life or both:

10. Harry Potter Series
9. Rudy
8. A Beautiful Mind (I like movies about math, but not math itself)
7. To Sir with Love
6. Bye-Bye Birdie
5. An Education
4. 10 Things I hate About You
3. Mean Girls
2. Mona Lisa Smile

And my all time fave (not surprising):
1. Dead Poet's Society