Last Thursday morning my middle school age son was up around 5 a.m. when I went downstairs to get ready for the day. While school only started Monday, he was ready for summer to end. 

I was too. 

Officially, summer goes on for a few more weeks, but with school now underway (including last Wednesday for the college) it feels like fall. 

The back-to-school period brings back memories — mostly good. As I took pictures of families helping new NWC students move into Lewis and Clark Hall last week, I recalled driving down to Flagstaff, Arizona, from Fort Collins, Colorado, to start my college experience. I listened to Cormac McCarthy’s “All the Pretty Horses” on tape as I drove, and the main character’s wanderings through Mexico jazzed me for my own chance to explore a new area. 

The reason my son had, as he said, felt like something switched for him, was that Thursday night was the open house for both of our children. This year, while my wife brought our youngest to Parkside, I drew the middle school assignment. 

Middle school was tough for me (isn’t it for all?) but it was the great transition period from kid to teen, to a willingness to take more responsibility for my life. From everything I’ve seen the last few years, I think Powell Middle School does this very well with its quality teachers, administrators, staff and counselors, who are making sure students, including my son, are on the right path. 

As I’ve told my son, high school is when those grades matter to a far greater extent than ever before, and the activities, jobs and sports you do will be those that go on college resumes. 

Still, high school can be a blast, especially if you’re prepared. 

So here’s a shout out to all those at Park County School District 1 for ensuring our students are prepared to advance and be successful no matter where they are in their K-12 journey, and to all those at Northwest College giving students a chance to take their first post-secondary steps toward a better future.