School Children

This afternoon I was driving home at around the time school lets out (I live in a predominately African-American and Hispanic neighborhood). The cutest little girl, maybe six years of age, was walking across the street with her pink fluorescent book bag stuffed full of books. In addition, she was dragging behind her a wheeled backpack that was as nearly tall as her (it was the funniest sight). Then, as I drove down another block there was a boy approximately ten years of age. He had a smaller backpack, not quite as stuffed full. Then a middle school student with just a notebook tucked under her arm passed, and finally a couple of high school girls with just purses in their hand. I don't know why I noticed this today or why the trend stuck out to me. I just wondered what happened to all the bright-eyed six-year olds who were excited and eager to learn, and where along the way they stopped being interested in school. I got kind of sad, because I realized that this little girl had so much potential, but that most likely her academic interest would not be supported by family or peers and that in a few years she would loose interest in school.