Back to school presents exciting challenges for the students of Westlake High School

HEAVY COURSE LOAD-From left, sophomores Aria DiGiovanni, Lily Espinosa and Faryar Ghaemi each lug an armful of books as classes resume at Westlake High School. September: the 30-day span affiliated with chaos, stress and anticipation. For years, this month not only has served as Office Depot's peak sales period, it also has been the traditional "Back to School" month.

For elementary school students, this means picking up the supply list and selecting the perfect pencil pouch to match the latest backpack. For middle school students, life revolves solely around lockers and Renaissance Candy sales. High school, on the other hand, is a different story entirely. School supply lists: not provided. Lockers: a mess of crumbled papers and 10-pound textbooks.

Renaissance Candy: what candy?

The deadly jump from eighth grade to freshman year is not only nerve-racking but overwhelming.

"I came to school at 6:45 a.m. to find myself standing in a line stretched halfway across the campus just to get my schedule. When I finally got it, I had no idea where to go and realized that it was only the beginning of a very stressful day," said Westlake High School freshman Kevin Weiss.

Luckily, Westlake offers WOW (Westlake Orientation Week) for incoming freshmen in order to familiarize them with the campus and the new way of life they are obligated to dive into.

Still, for these nave newcomers, the first day of school is typically a mess. If you're not late to at least one class, if you survive without any locker dilemmas, and if you aren't intimidated by the vast span of the Westlake campus, chances are you will complete a successful high school career, attend an Ivy League University, and retire at age 40.

If you're normal, on the other hand, Day One is rough. Teachers are not understanding about tardies or bathroom breaks, late homework is unacceptable, and your grades actually do matter.

"Looking back, I now realize that I should have taken advantage of my lenient schedule as a freshman. Now that I am applying to colleges, I find that freshman year does hold great significance," said Westlake senior Melanie Leahy.

In the long run, the beginning of school is quite typical for freshmen, sophomores and juniors. The students are slightly anxious to see old friends while also dreading summer's end.

Seniors tend to return to their old campus with a sense of rejuvenation and readiness. The feeling of graduating in the near future comprises a pound of excitement mixed with an ounce of anxiety and a pinch of sadness. But after a week or so, most every student is flooded with one emotion and one emotion only: stress.

High school is the last step before entering the real world. Now, exactly, what is the "real world?" For some, it is starting a family and making an income, but for most high school seniors, the real world is college: living independently and surviving without the 7 p.m. alarm of "Dinner's ready! Come to the table!" The snooze button is permanently out of order.

"It's obvious college is foremost in most seniors' minds when on the first day of school, some are already asking for help on their college essays," said Caron Battaglia, a 12th grade advanced placement English teacher.

While most students agonize about juggling sports, community service and academics, seniors are forced to balance these aspects while creating plans for their future and completing grueling college application forms.

For teens, September should not be unconsciously linked to madness and tension. Yes, it is two steps above the elementary

level, but what if students returned to class with the positive mindset of an 8-year-old? Isn't it possible that this optimistic outlook can not only reduce the pressure, but better prepare students for the day they actually do enter the real world? After all, doesn't high school exist solely to prepare students for that day?

Kaitlyn Burkett is a senior at Westlake High School who plans on giving Acorn readers regular updates from the campus.