I interviewed four beautiful, local Nonahood families. Each family has a child either entering the first year of elementary school, Kindergarten, or entering their last year of school, twelfth grade, also known as their “senior year.” The four families were asked the same five questions. Although the families are different, you will find the same love and worries woven throughout their answers. As you read, you can see the same emotion as the parents prepare themselves for the upcoming milestones.
The Mills Family
Bo, 5, entering Kindergarten at Eagle Creek Elementary School, Brother Evan, Parents Bob and Rebecca Mills
What are you most excited about this coming school year?
Rebecca: I’m most excited about watching my little boy grow into his personality and discover his independence. I’m excited to volunteer in the school on my days off so I can witness it first hand.
Bob: Mostly, the opportunity to help hone his creativity and building skills utilizing popsicle sticks, straws, pipe cleaners, construction paper, macaroni, paint, and lots of Elmer’s glue.
What is your child most excited about this coming school year?
Bo: Drawing, gluing, and erasing.
What is most stressful about this coming school year?
Rebecca: Trying to find the right before- and after-school care, not knowing if there will be a bus for him since we are in the walking zone, and knowing he’ll be changing schools after his first year since a new school is being built.
Bob: Also stressful – homework, algebra, and standardized tests. Rumor has it that the demands for Kindergarten are more difficult than when I attended, and it is only for serious students, not silly hearts or dreamers.
What was your experience in this grade? How do you remember it?
Rebecca: Kindergarten was only half days when I went to school, so what Bo is marching towards is already more rigorous than what I experienced. I remember being excited more than anything and thinking “LMNOP” was one letter when I started. I remember being really shy and only having a few close friends. I remember loving school and excelling at it.
Bob: Like Rebecca, my Kindergarten experience was half days. I remember my teacher playing an old upright piano and all my classmates singing/screaming songs while sitting on carpet squares. I recall building forts with cardboard blocks, drawing pictures, and being so excited for a new Letter People person. Finally, I remember learning how to tie my shoes and how proud I was to have mastered it – only to find out 30 years later that I was taught incorrectly.
What are your hopes for your child this coming school year?
Rebecca: I hope he discovers a love for learning and makes friends that will have a positive impact on him.
Bob: I hope he finds some great friends and that he learns to swim amongst the hundreds of other kindergartners. I also hope that 30 years from now he remembers how much fun recess was when he’s helping to write an article about his kid’s first day at Kindergarten.
The Mendez Family
Cristian Mendez, 17, entering 12th grade at Lake Nona High School, Parents Michael and Vanessa Mendez
What are you most excited about this coming school year?
Vanessa: It’s bittersweet. I’m excited for his senior year and all the festivities that come along with it, but I’m also sad because I know that he will soon be leaving for college.
What is your child most excited about this coming school year?
Vanessa: He is super excited for his senior year of football to start! A group of these teammates have been playing together since 6th grade, so there is quite a bond.
What is most stressful about this coming year?
Vanessa: I won’t lie! The entire college application process is a bit daunting and overwhelming! It is very different now than when my husband and I attended college years ago.
Michael: Making sure that Cristian not only has a great experience in his final year of high school, but also trying to find the best fit for him to continue his education. Thinking about all of the hard work that has been done so far to get us here, yet how much more there is to do before he takes on his new endeavor in college. It seems like there are only a few months into this senior year and we will already have to submit applications for colleges, make sure testing scores are at optimum, and that the program that he chooses will make him employable in the future.
What was your experience in this grade? How do you remember it?
Vanessa: I remember loving my senior year! I was finally able to drive to and from school with friends. Also, in our school if you were a senior, you were able to go off campus for lunch.
What are your hopes for your child this coming school year?
Vanessa: I hope he continues to challenge himself and work hard towards his goals and along the way has fun with his friends and makes it a memorable year. I know this year of many “lasts” will fly by.
The Duerr Family
Virginia “Ginny” Duerr, age 5, entering Kindergarten, Parents Matthew and Karen Duerr
What are you most excited about this coming school year?
Karen: I’m excited to continue watching Ginny grow and really start reading. I love how she has become a funny, interesting and quick-thinking little person. I am excited to watch her continue that trajectory!
What is your child most excited about this coming school year?
Karen: Ginny is excited about meeting her teacher. She had a great experience at orientation and really liked the teacher she met. Ginny said she hopes her teacher is nice and that she is going to super-duper love Kindergarten.
What is most stressful about this coming year?
Karen: Just not knowing exactly how everything works and losing the level of comfort we have with our current schedule and routine.
Matt: Excited/scared about Virginia moving to elementary school. She has always been Daddy’s girl and been in daycare since she was 6 weeks old. Both Ladybird and Primrose have done a great job at teaching her and getting her acclimated to a classroom scenario. This step into Kindergarten is a big chapter in her life and symbolizes my little girl is growing up!
What was your experience in this grade? How do you remember it?
Karen: Fondly. I was, admittedly, the teacher’s pet. Not sure why things changed in my later years. Ha ha ha!
Matt: I was in California at the time, no real memories of school. I remember playing outside a lot and getting The Legend of Zelda Nintendo game for my birthday!
What are your hopes for your child this coming school year?
Karen: I hope the curriculum keeps her focused, and she lays the foundation to really love to read.
Matt: I know that she will acclimate well and be very social. I hope that the work that she, us, and her daycare have put in over the past several years will aid her in being a scholastic standout and improve on her creativity.
The Becwar Family
Morgan Becwar, 17, entering 12th grade, Lake Nona High School, Sister: Paige Becwar, Mother Julie Becwar
What are you most excited about this coming school year?
Julie: What I am most excited about this year for Morgan is that she gets to experience senior year and celebrate all her hard work to get to this point. I want her to enjoy the year and embrace every opportunity and experience of being a senior!
What is your child most excited about this coming school year?
Morgan: I am most excited about leaving high school and heading to college. I’ve worked for the same goal for 13 years, and I’m finally approaching that goal: graduating. The whole idea of college excites me. Decorating your dorm, having new freedom, meeting new people, and traveling are things I’m looking forward to.
What is most stressful about this coming year?
Julie: I think the most stressful part of this year will be making sure we have everything we need to move forward and enroll in college. Deadlines, exams, grades, classes, and paperwork completed can be daunting and overwhelming with your first child graduating and not having done it before.
What was your experience in this grade? How do you remember it?
Julie: My senior year was easy, I only needed two classes to graduate, so I left after second period and went to my job. Most of my friends had already graduated. I was eager to make money and be out on my own.
What are your hopes for your child this coming school year?
Julie: My hopes for Morgan this year are that she enjoys every minute, has no regrets, and is proud of herself and all she has accomplished. I am extremely proud of the young lady she has become and can’t wait to see what her future holds!