Life's All Fun and Games Until You are Surrounded by a Mob of Screaming Kindergarteners

Life’s All Fun and Games Until You are Surrounded by a Mob of Screaming Kindergarteners

So if you think about it, fifth graders are the seniors of Elementary school. Like that is just a mind blowing thought…  and isn’t a moot point. But instead of going to college, we were moving on to the sixth level of educational hell.  Over fifth grade, middle school had a motif of being hell. Anyway, fifth grade was actually one of my favorite grades. It seems like just yesterday we went on the Warm Springs/ Callaway Gardens field trip and had our most intense field day ever. But since I am so close to actually graduating, I am reminded of my fifth grade graduation more than anything. That was probably one of the best days of my elementary life. Instead of doing a formal graduation, we had a plenary award ceremony and then we would do a last walk through the school. After the walk through we were allowed to leave at like eleven. That was awesome to a fifth grader but inane to everybody else.

The day started off like normal but instead of just putting on clothes and just leaving, we had to dress up. I had a purple floral dress and white shoes and my sister had done my hair. I thought that was so cool cause we were both graduating that day. Anyway I went to school and hung out in my mom’s classroom like I usually did. Except this time I argued with her for thirty minutes about what was going to happen during the final walk. She was thinking of having her class create huge signs saying how much they love me and good luck to the fifth grade class. I was fine with the later, but the first part…. Ummmm no! Well let’s just say I walked away thinking I won that argument. Anyway I sat through the boring ceremony and then the video came on. See every year the fifth grade class had a slideshow made about them with pictures of all of them through the years. That was a real tear- jerker presentation. My mom and dad were the only ones there for me so in no way did I feel derelict. My older sister couldn’t come because she was at the final Walton graduation practice. While I was secretly scared of the future, she was jumping for joy cause she hated Walton. Like no words can describe her hatred for that school. For awhile she was a little testy when asked where she went.

So the final walk… I couldn’t decide whether I was happy or sad. I had grown up in that school, and almost every teacher knew me. I had to stop every few doorways to take a picture with my former teachers and even as I look back at them, I cry cause these are the people that shaped my life so much. These were the people who constantly surveillance us and had the perspicacity to notice when something was wrong. And it was over… I was leaving the security of Elementary school and going into what felt like another dimension as a neophyte sixth graders.  So while I was deep in thought, next thing I know I’m nearing the end and there is my mom’s class. And let me tell you, Kindergarteners are see-through. You can always tell they are up to something. Right as I reach them, they pull out a huge banner and a few posters that say “good luck” and “we love you Katie!” As if that wasn’t bad enough they are chanting my name. It was embarrassing but I felt special, cause no one else had it happen to them.  I’m in a way glad I lost that argument now. The saddest part that day had to be saying goodbye to my friends that were going to a different school. For years we had been accused of complicity in each other’s antics. And truth is we all were partners in crime, and our rule was over.

So a few weeks ago, I visited Dodgen to see my “second mother.” I only call her that because our families are so close and my mom and her are best friends. Anyway as I’m walking down the halls to go to her office, and I’m suddenly surrounded by seventh graders. It was kinda creepy not gonna lie. But instead of it just being a group of random seventh graders, it was my mom’s class from when I was in fifth grade. The babies were grown up. Not only was I in shock that they are grown up but also the fact that they still remember me. That was one of my favorite moments this year. And to tell you a secret, I’m still like that little girl in fifth grade. I’m still scared of the future. 

Fifth Grade Song: Photograph by Nickelback