Poor us: losing the last day of summer vacation

On August 25th, for the first time that anyone can remember, incoming Blair freshmen will have a new terror to face on their first day. Sure, they'll have to deal with the typical things: finding their lockers, locating their classrooms, and navigating a gigantic school. But this year, they'll also have to deal with something much worse: the wrath of approximately 2,200 teenagers, very annoyed at having to be at school.

By now we've probably all seen the tiny notice on the Blair homepage calendar: August 25th- First day of school for Students. All grades report. What? All grades report? At first I re-read the message, thinking my eyes were deceiving me. Unfortunately, no such luck. For the first time in years, all students will have to go to school on the first day.

Historically, freshmen would have the school to themselves on the first day. This allowed them to find their way around Blair and adjust to being a high-schooler without having to deal with tenth, eleventh and twelfth graders who already know their way around, already recognize their teachers, and who have zero patience for tiny freshmen wandering the halls with absolutely no sense of direction. And who can blame them? I remember when I was a freshman, two years ago, on my first day of school. There were 2,200 students absent that day, and I still managed to be late to homeroom. And math. And physics. Not to mention that I completely gave up on trying to locate my locker.

It may not seem like much, but one less day to sleep in, one less day to finish up homework, and (most importantly), one less day to enjoy summer, makes a difference. Maybe it won't make a difference in the grand scheme of things, but it will definitely make a difference on the morning of August 25, when we all have to go to school. Together. 2,200 angry teenagers in one building. Forget the cheery faces and the excitement at being back. Most of us will probably be shooting daggers out of our eyes. And the one thought that will be running through my mind that whole morning on the first day of school? I could be sleeping right now.

I was planning to really enjoy my last day of summer. Well, actually I was going to use it more as a day to buy school supplies and finish homework. But still. That would have been my prerogative. And that was my plan, until I saw the notice on the website.

Yes, it's true that Blair is the only high school in Montgomery County that ever instituted this policy. Friends who go to different schools have no sympathy for Blair students. But Blair also happens to be the largest high school in Montgomery County.

It stinks that we all have school on the 25. It stinks for the seniors, the juniors, and the sophomores. But it especially stinks for the freshmen. In these last few days before the first day of school, I have only two words for the class of 2018. Good luck.