Back to school, through the ages

THERE’S SOMETHING SPECIAL about the back-to-school season: The smell of freshly sharpened pencils, the excitement of a new backpack, and the thrill (or nerves) of a fresh start. But for some families, the return to school is even more eventful than most. Picture one child starting first grade while their older sibling shops for prom outfits or college dorm supplies. These families are juggling sight words, lunchboxes, late-night study sessions, and loading up on life-lessons (laundry!) all at the same time.

Every student has some preconceived notions of how their school year is going to be. From sneakers squeaking down elementary hallways to high school seniors writing essays and applications, their stories remind us that every first day is a big one, no matter how old you are. To celebrate the start of the school year, we talked with two local families who have siblings on both ends of the academic spectrum—and we asked those siblings the same questions.

First, we checked in with CJ and Shaun, two brothers from Brielle with a 12-year age difference. CJ is entering second grade, mastering his math skills and preparing for a future in the NFL. His older brother Shaun is in his sophomore year at Monmouth University, living away from home, studying to become a teacher and (hopefully) doing his own laundry.

What are you most excited about for this school year?

Shaun: Making new friends.

CJ: Meeting new friends.

What are you least excited about? 

Shaun: Classes where I have to write a lot.

CJ: Ummm…wait…In what grade do you start history? If it’s second grade, I’m not excited about that!

What do you want to learn this year? 

CJ: Why is the sky blue and why is giraffe spelled with a “G” not a “J”?

What does school mean to you? 

Shaun: School is a tool to get you the career you want in life.

CJ: Learning, having fun, and being kind.

What will you miss most about being home for the summer?

Shaun: Seeing my family every day.

CJ: Laying in my bed and relaxing.

What’s in your backpack?

Shaun: Pencils, notebooks, and books.

CJ: I don’t know.

Who is one person you look up to and why?

Shaun: I’m not sure.

CJ: That’s hard, I want to say to my family...I can’t pick just one!

What’s something you hope doesn’t happen this year?

Shaun: I really hope I don’t fail a class.

CJ: I hope no one gets injured on the playground.

If you could teach a class, what would it be about?

Shaun: I’d love to teach history or math.

CJ: Math. I like Math.

Where do you see yourself when you grow up (or after you graduate)?

Shaun: A teacher at a high school.

CJ: Playing in the NFL!

Who is one person you are hoping to be in class with?

Shaun: My cousin.

CJ: Oh, now this one is hard! Definitely Desmond, Mickey, and Willie.

If you could be the principal for one day, what new rule would you add?

Shaun: No homework!

CJ: Hmm..What new rule? No math—never mind, I like math. Let me think…go home early.

What is your favorite subject and why? Shaun: Math is my favorite because I love the process to get an answer.

CJ: Math is my favorite. I like adding numbers together to get a bigger number.

What is your least favorite subject and why?

Shaun: ELA is my least favorite because I really don’t like writing.

CJ: My least favorite would be…actually, I don’t have one!

If the student sitting next to you starts to fall asleep, do you wake them up or let them sleep?

Shaun: Let him sleep, because I know I would probably be upset if someone woke me up—unless it was a test.

CJ: Wake him up! Because if a teacher calls on him, he’s going to be wondering what the answer is, he’s going to wonder what to do—so I would wake him up.

We also caught up with sisters Keegan and Selene. As Keegan gets ready for first grade, her big sister Selene is preparing to finish her high school career and make some big decisions about what comes next.

What are you most excited about for this school year?

Selene: Voc.

Keegan: Ummmm SNACK!

What are you least excited about?

Selene: Seeing my peers. Keegan: Math.

What do you want to learn this year?

Selene: Getting my cosmetology license.

Keegan: (in a concerned tone) I don’t know.

What does school mean to you?

Selene: Depends. Sometimes it’s a good form of a schedule and social interactions. Other times I’d rather do anything else.

Keegan: I don’t know what that means.

(to Keegan) It means, when you think of school, how do you feel, and what do you think about?

Keegan: Ummm happiness, and sometimes I’m bored.

What will you miss most about being home for the summer?

Selene: Sleeping in.

Keegan: My whole family. And also puppy—that’s my little blankie.

What’s in your backpack?

Selene: Binders, water, pencils, deodorant, headphones.

Keegan: School stuff and my folders and my lunch box.

Who is one person you look up to?

Selene: My parents. They work really hard all the time.

Keegan: (blank stare.)

(to Keegan) Do you understand the question?

Keegan: No.

It means, who is somebody that makes you think, “I want to be just like them?”

Keegan: No one, I want to be just like me!

What’s something you hope doesn’t happen this year?

Selene: Drama. If I get put in a class with a drama queen, I’m gonna frown.

Keegan: I forget.

If you could teach a class, what would it be about?

Selene: History of punk rock. Keegan: Teen numbers, that means 13, 14, 15, 1G.

Where do you see yourself when you grow up, or after you graduate?

Selene: In the city, doing hair for Broadway or TV, working with rockstars. Happily married.

Keegan: I wanna go to the beach and build giant sandcastles with a lot of seashells on them. And I want them to be really big!

Who is one person you are hoping to be in class with or have a class with?

Selene: Jack Andrews. We are bros, he’s basically my brother.

Keegan: All of my friends are going to the same first grade class with me.

What is one thing someone may not know about you?

Selene: I’m nice! At times, I tend to have a serious look on my face that makes people think I don’t like them or something, but I’m a nice person, I swear!

Keegan: Sometimes this (answering questions) is tricky for me.

If you could be the principal for one day, what new rule would you add?

Selene: I don’t really know.

Keegan: Everyone has to share toys.

What is your favorite subject and why?

Selene: Ugh, I wish I still had recess! My favorite subject is voc—it’s what I’m most interested in.

Keegan: Teen numbers because I think it’s fun.

What is your least favorite subject and why?

Selene: My least favorite is math! Keegan: Math, because I think it’s boring.

If the student sitting next to you starts to fall asleep, do you wake them up or let them sleep?

Selene: Let them sleep. I don’t know what other people do every day. This could be the only place they feel safe enough to sleep or the only time they have to sleep. If they wake up, I’d probably ask if they were okay, but I’m not gonna start shaking them or snitch on them.

Keegan: (Shakes head no.) Well, the person next to me doesn’t fall asleep because she’s not tired. I always look at her and she doesn’t fall asleep.

BY MOLLY MECHLER