The North York Mirror

As students head back to school this week, there will undoubtedly emerge some clashing feelings: some of anticipation, some of anxiety and some of utter horror.

But who can blame you?

It would be virtually inhuman to expect anyone not to inhibit some sort of sentimental attachment to days when the world was your oyster, where any territory not tread upon before was finally made available at your feet.

But needless to say, all those lazy summer days - however pleasant - did leave some pretty uncanny side effects. I'm thinking along the lines of increased dependency on the television set that's gained enough prominence in the household to have its own orbit, the sudden appearance of sloth-like habits as evident in a long trail of food wrappers, discarded laundry and other assorted unmentionables in a setting that closely resembles a raccoon's paradise, and (perhaps more inevitable than most) an impossibly late bedtime devoid of any sense whatsoever that makes one's parents recoil in shock and bewilderment while seriously contemplating the necessity of revaluating the morals involved in their teen's upbringing.

Indeed, adjusting to the sudden reappearance of the methodical school environment from the free-roaming playground of a two-month interlude in which one could do as the heart desires will involve some sacrifice and grit, but ultimately, it shall be overcome - and be very much worth it. Below are three phases one may expect to find during the recovery process, and how to overcome them (citing Freud at your service):

Anger:

"Why must this happen to me?" or "Time is so cruel" are common sayings during this time of the year and in many cases they hold merit. It's frustrating to have to suddenly switch from the comfort of one environment to another within the period of one day, and oftentimes this can lead to bouts of bitterness and slouching. However, do not wage your wrath upon those around you; this will only result in conflicts that cannot better the situation at hand.

Take deep breaths and calm down. When anger subsides and helplessness emerges, one copes with the matter by denying its very existence, arguing that what one does not see, one does not need to worry about, which brings me to the next phase.

Denial:

Ignore the blatant back-to-school ads, or the suspiciously more prominent (and earlier) morning wake-up calls you'd receive from the parents on the "premise" of "preparing you" for a "special event in the near future."

Denial is an inherent part of the back-to-school preparation process, and perhaps the most challenging phase. It's this mentality that can sometimes lead us to overlook all the factors associated with returning to school, immersing ourselves in something completely opposite (excessive gaming) in an effort to deny the passage of time. But such beliefs will only hinder your ability to adapt.

It's only when we look past what cannot be changed that we may find acceptance.

Acceptance:

Every student has to go back to school; if not, society would stagnate and we'd all be living in our parents' basements until we're 40. It's the universal truth, and in many ways shows how fortunate we are to be living in a country that grants us such academic privileges.

Acceptance comes when we realize the inevitable and take strides to prepare ourselves (such as by forgoing the summer diet composed of junk food, organizing the slightly disorganized lifestyle and, of course, adopting a more prudent sleep time).

Dwell on the positives, not the negatives, you'll be going back armed with the experience gathered from previous school years, which will ultimately play to your favour in achieving the dream of becoming a better person.

Think of it this way: if there's one upside that the new school year will bring, it will be the start of a new chapter in one's life, the realizing of past relationships and aspirations, and the forging of new ones.

Millie Ho is a high school student in North York.