OK, so maybe you’re not excited about another year of school. Saying goodbye to summer (lemonade, angry bees and car seats as hot as waffle irons) is hard, but maybe this list will help get you motivated.

Extreme Friends Makeover!
Who is that? Is that Lisa?! She cut her hair, and she never used to wear capris! Many girls change their look over the summer, then buy enough back-to-school outfits to clothe the country of Paraguay. Then their friends notice ANYTHING different about each other.

Eryn (looking at Sally): Looks like somebody’s toes grew!

Guys don’t really change their image as much and probably wouldn’t notice unless it was something major.

Nic: Dude, are you a pirate now?

Alex: Arrrrrrrrr.

Nic: Sweet parrot. I bet it fails P.E.

Emotion Explosion!
After boring days watching your little brother chase bugs, your emotions will ’splode! I’ve noticed when girls see their friends they scream, throw their arms out and run toward each other to hug. This happens even if one of them has only left to grab a napkin during lunch. The odds of guys hugging like that equals the odds of a walrus singing on “American Idol.”

Interior Design!
You can put that creativity to work! Many girls’ lockers are bursting with pictures, posters, mirrors, wallpaper, accent lighting, waterfalls and more.

And guys? If you find anything colorful in a guy’s locker it’s probably a sandwich that has been in there way too long, has turned to mysterious goo, and something a biohazard team will blow it up at the end of the year.

Lunchtime!
I’m sorry. I’m trying to be optimistic here, but there really is NOTHING exciting about a cafeteria. I think cafeterias need an image change—or maybe a catchy slogan:

“The Cafeteria: Your Gateway to Good Times!”

“Lunch Trays: Compartmentalized Craziness!”

“It’s more than a corn dog—it’s a catapult to your dreams!”

Brain Power!
New classes mean you’ll be a Knowledge Gladiator! By the end of the year you can impress your friends with words like papyrus, mitochondria, algorithm and mollusk.”

Activity-O-Rama!
There are elections, sports tryouts, and before you know it you’ll be decorating the homecoming float! By the way, homecoming floats would look totally different if it wasn’t for girls.

John: That’s our homecoming float? Isn’t that your car?

Drew: Yeah—I taped mustard packets on the hood. And I glued that giant, stuffed duck on the window!

John: Isn’t our mascot the cardinal?

Drew: Oops.

And the homecoming dance? Forget the miles of streamers, cutout stars, fountains and pretty decorations. Think dance themes like:

Planet Gorgar: It’s a Megartronic Xylithopulsar Party!

Land of Electric Shocks

Disco at the Zoo!

Exciting Challenges!
Grow your faith and confidence as you face questions like:

Is it safe to drink out of that water fountain?

What will these lab goggles do to my hair?

Does Ethan “like, like” me or just “like” me?

So forget what lies behind and focus on these reasons to be excited about school! By the way, if you find my sandwich please let me know. I forgot it in my locker.