Today we are asked to write about returning to school...it is right around the corner again already. Such a broad subject. I started with a serious theme but a different idea emerged as I was writing. See what others come up with over at dversepoets.com
Young sponges
absorb everything around them -
stimulated by their environment,
are fed stories early in life
Kindergarten has them playing
with crayons, building blocks
They play on the swing
and merry-go-round
At the next rudimentary level
they soak up geography, math,
emphasis on reading
Curious, eager and thirsty,
they take home work to study
They do all the prep work,
hone their skills
to get passing grades,
to 'get somewhere',
Their world expands beyond the classroom
they decide which path to take,
discover who they are
That knowledge gained,
life ought be that much more manageable later, one would think
But the longest learning curve
is maturity, notwithstanding
peer pressure, daydreaming,
and one's still growing brain
Social life becomes the light
that shines through
Young sponges take in music and sports,
write term papers,
find what interests them most
They become educated about
the opposite sex -
no lessons on family planning,
raising children, those sudden feelings
they experience,
hormones urging them to explore
that part of themselves
Teen sponges
emulate upperclassmen
For me, it was their hairstyles,
full circles skirts, sweaters and saddle shoes they wore
We idolized cheerleaders,
honor students,
husky football players
We loved summer vacations,but, oh, those Septembers were sweet!
Young adult sponges can become
waterlogged, which causes
risky behavior
They need to learn to float
before it is too late,
Sometimes this means
some form of rebellion;
they might join the military,
drop out, or fight for a cause -
some go straight to work
Full of language and equations,
they are equipped for college
They become rulers of their domain
while their earliest imprints
are sometimes trampled on,
tested or.. possibly they can be enhanced
while their earliest imprints
are sometimes trampled on,
tested or.. possibly they can be enhanced
or chances of survival as they
tip and falter for a a time
They are squeezed by perceived
unrealistic expectations
They are still children
when it comes to their frontal lobes
Their character formed,
talents defined, young adult spongesadvance to college,
into adulthood,
learn accountability
The school of life takes on w
worldly meanings
Students choose to follow a star,
find their passion or bliss
The energy filled sponges find jobs,
live in a world ever changing,
no longer able to absorb
as they once did
They filter information and events
at their own discretion,
discard what they don't need
They find chance and circumstance
can crash their domain
Moments of joy are interspersed
with pockets of sorrow,
unresolved issues,
and black holes of the unknown
They develop pot-marks
and rough edges,
as they continue to strive and create,
pursue their dreams
Success, however,
is undetermined at this point
in a sponge's life
Hopefully they learn to love
and understand:
Amid the thrills
of discovering and learning,elements of faith and hope
are involved
Before life wears one down,
or one runs out of steam
or one runs out of steam
what book will they write
before they graduate
from this life?
from this life?
Very interesting analogy with sponges and school goes lifelong - I have also taken similar adaptation. Quite a saga you created here.
ReplyDeleteclever write... thanks for taking us through some stages we won't soon forget
ReplyDeleteI am amazed when I see some young children absorb so many things, so quickly. The human brain is a complex and wonderful thing that can write its own book.
ReplyDeleteThe way we once were sponges.. maybe it's not lack of water that makes it harder to absorb new things.. but that we are waterlogged... how should we ever manage to revitalize that sponge.?
ReplyDeleteCharacter education is hugely important and can be included in most any subject. In Algebra I talk about relationships, communication, smart choices, cooperation...it can be done. They do soak up whatever they are taught so it is vitally important the integrity of those doing the teaching. Trial and error is def not the best way to learn some things.
ReplyDeleteI agree some of the most influencial people in my life have been teachers - and not so much the subject they taught but what they taught me with how they cared beyond the classroom. It is a beautiful thing as well to see students years later and see what they have made of themselves. And even when they remember you.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the learning at each stage from kindergarten to college ~ And I hope that we never forget that learning goes on and on and that we must be sponges and try to absorb much of the world ~ It would be interesting to see and read what book it will be ~
ReplyDeletei love the analogy with sponges...the young minds do absorb everything that interests them...
ReplyDeletethat made me smile... cool how you compare them to sponges who soak up things eagerly and with all the ups and downs as well.. isn't it exciting to go through all those stages
ReplyDeleteYou've shared not only the back to the school but have given a relatively thorough history of the whole schooling experience! Smiles.
ReplyDeleteA saga indeed, a sponge novella; what fun, a great ride. Only thing missing is the creation of new little sponges, & the continuation of the cycle.
ReplyDeleteA sponge can hold much water..
ReplyDeletefloat forever
on rivers
that move..
connect
to oceans
creating more..
but a sponge
that stills
in one
sink
of
dirty
water
grows
old with
mold before
ever truly creating more
absorbing ocean
instead
of just
one behavioral
sink.. and yeah..
there's even a
link for
THAT..
smiles..
"Behavioral
Sink" on
Google..
ARE we
rats or
humans..
jury
hung
still
on THAT
chances
are both
and
lesson
learning
moving
connecting
creating
away from
sinks of US..:)
This is great! I love it !
ReplyDelete