My First Day Of School - 25 Years On ...
Monday
3 September 1990
This was - in all likelihood - the date when my School era began.
(Although in my country children traditionally commence a school year on 1 September, the historical records indicate that in 1990, the 1st of September was actually Saturday, which means it is unlikely [yet still possible] that I actually started on that day, and therefore - logically - I decided to focus on September 3 instead, which was the nearest working day to follow).
Today I am marking and celebrating the 25 th anniversary of the start of my school life.
I thought I would share it here on the site.
A quarter of a century is a milestone and a significant time period for sure.
Apparently, that Monday in the historical calendar was my first day ever as a pupil.
A special date in any child's life.
Some things to remember and to look back on indeed ...
When - as a 7 year old boy in my native city and country where I then lived - I went to Class 1 of my local school - which is to this day still situated in the region of my childhood home, a tall residential building. (The school itself is not actually tall at all but - let's better say - wide).
When the Soviet Union was still in existence - led by Mikhail Gorbachev .. and the USA were governed by George Bush (Senior) .. and the United Kingdom was under the premiership of the late Margaret Thatcher. The same year that Nelson Mandela was released from prison (he was to come to my other - British - school later on, in the year 2000) .. and Total Recall, a science fictional film from the USA, was in the cinemas.
That was to be my very first school of the total 4 schools to come throughout my entire school career over the period of 1990 - 2001. The most part of this challenging laborious journey (mixed with hardship but also happiness and adventures for me), as the history of my life has shown, was to take place abroad - outside the country of origin of my first school.
But on that significant Monday all of that was still ahead of me - and much of it way ahead in the "distant" future.
As was the traditional procedure, we the pupils all assembled in the school yard in front of the building, obviously our parents being present. In my case I think I was accompanied by my stepfather. But I imagine there must have been some special area reserved for the new arrivals, in other words Class 1 which I myself was to join.
Probably after the relevant ceremonies ended, the next procedure was that we the youngest pupils were taken into the school building by the eldest students (Class 10) - they led us holding our hands.And as I was led along a corridor by an older girl, I remember myself starting to cry - most probably from being overwhelmed by the excitement and the emotions.
Then we were sitting in a class room (which I called a cabinet) meeting our first class teacher, and she was giving us a talk for a while, I remember she said - among other things - something like: "Well, now it is time to get back to your parents who have been waiting for you for quite a time by now".
Then I was home again... And a new - more responsible - stage of my childhood - had just begun.
Throughout Class 1, on my tiny sized school uniform I was wearing a small metal badge with an image of Lenin on it, now being traditionally and ceremonially, a Little October Boy .. so to translate it (after the October Revolution of 1917).
I wonder what my former fellow pupils are all up to now these days - and where they are .. 23 years since I last saw them (I was to leave my country and move away abroad in almost precisely two year's time).
Ten years ago - on a regular visit to my motherland and native city in the summer of 2005 aged 22 - I went into the building again and visited my first school.And looking back now, many years later, I cannot help but admit how much the world and the people in my life - and I myself personally - have changed - in various ways - over the course of the quarter of a century that has passed since I went to school ...
A day to remember ! ..
To put things into context a bit ...
Traditionally, in my native country the compulsory state school age for pupils was approx. from 7 to 15 (or more precisely - from Class 1 to Class 8 inclusive) while the entire school "career" available lasted from age 7 to age 17 - roughly - where one would go through the full journey from Class 1 to Class 10 (later became Class 11).
This differs from the UK academic system where the mandatory education is between the ages of 5 and 16. However, my country's academic system may have changed since the times when I finished school, meaning the above may no longer be fully accurate.
Although I completed my "native" school in 2000 aged 17, my own school era actually lasted until 2001 as I was in the British system by that time and left my London school on completion of my A Levels.
To read in more detail on what the world looked like on Monday 3 September 1990 and to see the various special dates and events of the time, you might want to visit the following web address / online source: http://takemeback.to/03-September-1990#.VefMC1NRHIU
Many thanks to everyone for reading.
3 September 1990
This was - in all likelihood - the date when my School era began.
(Although in my country children traditionally commence a school year on 1 September, the historical records indicate that in 1990, the 1st of September was actually Saturday, which means it is unlikely [yet still possible] that I actually started on that day, and therefore - logically - I decided to focus on September 3 instead, which was the nearest working day to follow).
Today I am marking and celebrating the 25 th anniversary of the start of my school life.
I thought I would share it here on the site.
A quarter of a century is a milestone and a significant time period for sure.
Apparently, that Monday in the historical calendar was my first day ever as a pupil.
A special date in any child's life.
Some things to remember and to look back on indeed ...
When - as a 7 year old boy in my native city and country where I then lived - I went to Class 1 of my local school - which is to this day still situated in the region of my childhood home, a tall residential building. (The school itself is not actually tall at all but - let's better say - wide).
When the Soviet Union was still in existence - led by Mikhail Gorbachev .. and the USA were governed by George Bush (Senior) .. and the United Kingdom was under the premiership of the late Margaret Thatcher. The same year that Nelson Mandela was released from prison (he was to come to my other - British - school later on, in the year 2000) .. and Total Recall, a science fictional film from the USA, was in the cinemas.
That was to be my very first school of the total 4 schools to come throughout my entire school career over the period of 1990 - 2001. The most part of this challenging laborious journey (mixed with hardship but also happiness and adventures for me), as the history of my life has shown, was to take place abroad - outside the country of origin of my first school.
But on that significant Monday all of that was still ahead of me - and much of it way ahead in the "distant" future.
As was the traditional procedure, we the pupils all assembled in the school yard in front of the building, obviously our parents being present. In my case I think I was accompanied by my stepfather. But I imagine there must have been some special area reserved for the new arrivals, in other words Class 1 which I myself was to join.
Probably after the relevant ceremonies ended, the next procedure was that we the youngest pupils were taken into the school building by the eldest students (Class 10) - they led us holding our hands.And as I was led along a corridor by an older girl, I remember myself starting to cry - most probably from being overwhelmed by the excitement and the emotions.
Then we were sitting in a class room (which I called a cabinet) meeting our first class teacher, and she was giving us a talk for a while, I remember she said - among other things - something like: "Well, now it is time to get back to your parents who have been waiting for you for quite a time by now".
Then I was home again... And a new - more responsible - stage of my childhood - had just begun.
Throughout Class 1, on my tiny sized school uniform I was wearing a small metal badge with an image of Lenin on it, now being traditionally and ceremonially, a Little October Boy .. so to translate it (after the October Revolution of 1917).
I wonder what my former fellow pupils are all up to now these days - and where they are .. 23 years since I last saw them (I was to leave my country and move away abroad in almost precisely two year's time).
Ten years ago - on a regular visit to my motherland and native city in the summer of 2005 aged 22 - I went into the building again and visited my first school.And looking back now, many years later, I cannot help but admit how much the world and the people in my life - and I myself personally - have changed - in various ways - over the course of the quarter of a century that has passed since I went to school ...
A day to remember ! ..
To put things into context a bit ...
Traditionally, in my native country the compulsory state school age for pupils was approx. from 7 to 15 (or more precisely - from Class 1 to Class 8 inclusive) while the entire school "career" available lasted from age 7 to age 17 - roughly - where one would go through the full journey from Class 1 to Class 10 (later became Class 11).
This differs from the UK academic system where the mandatory education is between the ages of 5 and 16. However, my country's academic system may have changed since the times when I finished school, meaning the above may no longer be fully accurate.
Although I completed my "native" school in 2000 aged 17, my own school era actually lasted until 2001 as I was in the British system by that time and left my London school on completion of my A Levels.
To read in more detail on what the world looked like on Monday 3 September 1990 and to see the various special dates and events of the time, you might want to visit the following web address / online source: http://takemeback.to/03-September-1990#.VefMC1NRHIU
Many thanks to everyone for reading.
(edited 8 years ago)
Vlad, poppet, that was really boring lol. Sorry dude.
Incidentally I don't remember my first day of school at all. September 1989 I guess. Don't remember a single thing about it. I remember a few bits and pieces from that year, but the first day is a complete blank.
Original post by PinkMobilePhone
Vlad, poppet, that was really boring lol. Sorry dude.
No that is perfectly fine, do not worry.
Thanks - I do appreciate an honest opinion !
Original post by PinkMobilePhone
Incidentally I don't remember my first day of school at all. September 1989 I guess. Don't remember a single thing about it. I remember a few bits and pieces from that year, but the first day is a complete blank.
Well, that is interesting. Thanks a lot for your contribution.
Yes sure - I guess the memories and all, it differs from person to person. Which is fine. I obviously do remember things from my own first day though.
So your school life began even earlier than mine - by a year.
But obviously we are talking the UK system here - starting with primary schools and so on. If I lived in Britain at that stage of my life / childhood, I would have started my compulsory education at a primary school in 1988 at the age of 5 instead of 1990. But like I said in my thread, in my country the starting age was roughly 7. Well, again.. it may be different nowadays - but I am not sure as I am not living there.
I remember getting in trouble for laughing at a boy sat next to me (who, incidentally, ended up becoming my boyfriend years later) when he tried to wink at me and instead squinted both of his eyes. It still makes me smile/giggle all these years later, he was a cracker. 
I was born in '85 so that was probably around 1990 too, as we start school at 4 here, or did anyway.
I was born in '85 so that was probably around 1990 too, as we start school at 4 here, or did anyway.
Original post by Vlad83
What are everyone's memories of their own very first day of school ?
It would be quite curious to read them.
It would be quite curious to read them.
I don't remember my first day of school. I do, however, remember a brief moment of my first day at secondary school (10 years ago).
Original post by CandyKoRn
I remember getting in trouble for laughing at a boy sat next to me (who, incidentally, ended up becoming my boyfriend years later) when he tried to wink at me and instead squinted both of his eyes. It still makes me smile/giggle all these years later, he was a cracker.
I was born in '85 so that was probably around 1990 too, as we start school at 4 here, or did anyway.
I was born in '85 so that was probably around 1990 too, as we start school at 4 here, or did anyway.
Thank you for sharing !
Well, that is a nice story - both funny and quite romantic at the same time.
Sometimes people do meet and become acquaintances or even something much more or longer term, under odd or unexpected circumstances. For sure ! That is life.
Wow, you started school at the age of 4 ... I would make a suggestion that this may be a little bit too early actually. A bit awkward and pressured for a child of that age ? But cool as you and I, we do coincide in starting at around 1990 - the same year.
Original post by tehforum
I don't remember my first day of school. I do, however, remember a brief moment of my first day at secondary school (10 years ago).
OK cool. Was it an interesting / special moment for your memories ?
Original post by Vlad83
OK cool. Was it an interesting / special moment for your memories ?
Indeed, met my best friend
Original post by tehforum
Indeed, met my best friend
Nice.
Original post by Vlad83
Thank you for sharing !
Well, that is a nice story - both funny and quite romantic at the same time.
Sometimes people do meet and become acquaintances or even something much more or longer term, under odd or unexpected circumstances. For sure ! That is life.
Wow, you started school at the age of 4 ... I would make a suggestion that this may be a little bit too early actually. A bit awkward and pressured for a child of that age ? But cool as you and I, we do coincide in starting at around 1990 - the same year.
Well, that is a nice story - both funny and quite romantic at the same time.
Sometimes people do meet and become acquaintances or even something much more or longer term, under odd or unexpected circumstances. For sure ! That is life.
Wow, you started school at the age of 4 ... I would make a suggestion that this may be a little bit too early actually. A bit awkward and pressured for a child of that age ? But cool as you and I, we do coincide in starting at around 1990 - the same year.
I started my primary school at 3 (so September 1988) as did my niece and nephew more recently. School isn't the same when you go under 5 as you only do a half day and you learn from playing rather than doing more traditional school work.
Posted from TSR Mobile
I think I started 1993/4, all I remember was the parents sat in the assembly hall with us, then the kids were told to follow th teachers, I was thinking, "follow where? What are we doing? Why are my parents still sat there?". It seemed every kid knew the protocol and were excited but I felt like I knew nothing !!! That year I broke my arm/ had an operation and missed lots of school, I started going back gradually in the mornings and the teacher asked me if I wanted to go back all day. I really wanted to say no but I reluctantly said yes.
Original post by GangBang
I think I started 1993/4, all I remember was the parents sat in the assembly hall with us, then the kids were told to follow th teachers, I was thinking, "follow where? What are we doing? Why are my parents still sat there?". It seemed every kid knew the protocol and were excited but I felt like I knew nothing !!! That year I broke my arm/ had an operation and missed lots of school, I started going back gradually in the mornings and the teacher asked me if I wanted to go back all day. I really wanted to say no but I reluctantly said yes.
Wow, that is an interesting story and memories you have !
I am sorry to hear about your accident and the consequent difficulties at the time. My sympathies.
May I ask - do you miss school and / or school life?
Original post by gemmam
I started my primary school at 3 (so September 1988) as did my niece and nephew more recently. School isn't the same when you go under 5 as you only do a half day and you learn from playing rather than doing more traditional school work.
Posted from TSR Mobile
Posted from TSR Mobile
At the age of 3 !.. That is an even younger age than when I went to kindergarten in my native country.
OK, that is interesting... And yes sure - no wonder the educational approach and activities are different, given that age.
Original post by conroy26
i'm told i cried all day because i wanted my mum and i wanted to go home
18 years later i still do the same thing whenever starting in a new environment
18 years later i still do the same thing whenever starting in a new environment
Aww...
But I do understand that.
This was a really touching and nice story.
As you may see in my thread's original post, I too cried on my very first day of school at one specific moment when being escorted into the school building by an older student.
Long, long ago... Touching memories ...
Original post by Vlad83
Aww...
But I do understand that.
This was a really touching and nice story.
As you may see in my thread's original post, I too cried on my very first day of school at one specific moment when being escorted into the school building by an older student.
Long, long ago... Touching memories ...
But I do understand that.
This was a really touching and nice story.
As you may see in my thread's original post, I too cried on my very first day of school at one specific moment when being escorted into the school building by an older student.
Long, long ago... Touching memories ...
yes indeed. you mentioned moving away two years after starting school, what sort of effect did that have on you at that age?
i always stayed close to home so i grew up knowing the same people until i left secondary school so i can't image what it must feel like to have to start from scratch.
i would imagine a little scary?
Original post by conroy26
yes indeed. you mentioned moving away two years after starting school, what sort of effect did that have on you at that age?
i always stayed close to home so i grew up knowing the same people until i left secondary school so i can't image what it must feel like to have to start from scratch.
i would imagine a little scary?
i always stayed close to home so i grew up knowing the same people until i left secondary school so i can't image what it must feel like to have to start from scratch.
i would imagine a little scary?
I imagine it was nice for you to have stayed close to your home, it is good, there are certain advantages to that for sure.Well... I moved to the Czech Republic (Prague) - then still Czechoslovakia - aged just 9, and it was the start of my long period of living abroad (just passed a 23 year mark and counting). The reason I moved away from my native country with my family was my mother's work. It turned out to be longer (and then obviously much longer) than was originally planned.
I guess the best way to understand what sort of effect it could have is to actually experience it and go through it yourself in practice. Yet having said that, each individual is different and unique of course, so the effect could be somewhat different too.. depending on the person.
As you would be correct to imagine, it did impact on me. And yes, especially given my young and impressionable age at the time. I did miss my country and especially my native city and my childhood home throughout my 4 year life in the Czech Republic, and the effect, the transition syndrome so to speak, was felt particularly vividly at the initial stages or months (throughout the later parts of 1992 for sure) after having moved to Prague. You could even say I struggled to find a place for myself .. so to put it. Which is only natural, and not just for a child. It was of course a new environment, new surroundings, new people.. a new country. And not least, a new school, new fellow pupils, new teachers - and having to leave my former educational environment and the familiar people - as well as my relatives and my extended family (and my own father) behind. In other words, basically needing to adapt.
But as time went gradually by and with the transition period behind, the initial uncomfortable - and even somewhat sad - feelings became less sharp, and naturally and gradually I got more absorbed into my new life. I never went to a Czech school (unlike my British school here in London later on) but instead I studied at my native country's Embassy school for the duration of these 4 years with a bit. So I retained the opportunity of speaking my own language at school and followed my native educational curriculum and the general schooling system and whilst at school was generally within the familiar culture more or less. Which was certainly an advantage for me in a number of ways. Moreover, every summer during the initial years I went on a visit to my native country and city during the holidays and had a chance of visiting my childhood apartment and seeing my relatives etc.
Plus, although my family did not actually have a Russian TV at home, but a Czech one (we lived separately from the Embassy), we visited a Russian club or a cultural centre there in Prague many times where we could watch films in a cinema etc and we were regularly receiving the familiar Russian newspapers in the post at home and could therefore follow the events happening in the motherland. My grandparents visited us in Prague too, a number of times (each time separately from one another, but no big difference anyway). So I mean.. in those ways there was some degree of connection with the distant home, meaning I was not 100 % practically cut off from it so to speak.. even though to my juvenile imagination at the time, it probably could seem to the contrary, and at times I did miss my motherland to quite a significant degree and even frustration on occasions. Despite all the various personal activities and adventures I had in the Czech Republic and Prague and the trips - and the amazing local Zoo.. etc.
Although I did have a couple of friends at different stages of living in Prague, I nonetheless was not a particularly "friendly" boy or the one "hot" on being in companies etc - which I guess did not help by way of making things go more smoothly for me. But even so, still I had things to substitute it and compensate in a way.
So no, I did not have to start from scratch in every aspect (certainly not in respect of my education / school), while in other aspects I probably did have to.
A little scary ? Well.. maybe. But like I said, what I can account for with more certainty is, rather, frustration. After all, moving countries is a serious business, not least for a child - if not especially for a child... But as they say, every cloud has a silver lining... So those were my own experiences.
But in the end.. you just have to adapt. This was still my Life, albeit my new life.. if you like. And obviously it is only natural to assimilate - at least in part, to a degree anyway - and to get used - after eventually having spent most of your life abroad, namely the recent 23 years of it.
Thank you for your interest to know.
(edited 8 years ago)
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