I can see and feel summer performing its final act. The beach towels still hang on the fence, yet the pool is almost too hot for a swim.
The days, although still long, seem shorter as our schedules begin to fill. Sunsets look a little different. Everything is shaded with the same hue, best described as warm. The abundance of May and June rains have given an extra breath of life to all that is green and growing. Yet our punch-drunk love for Mississippi summer is sobering up in a haze of humidity.

One by one, yellow buses take to the streets. A centipede of SUVs are dropping off and picking up, as adolescent faced drivers are whizzing through with adventurous responsibility.

School is back in session and time keeps marching on. I remember that feeling, as if August snuck in and stole summer break like a thief in the night. I didn’t like school.

Of course, I looked forward to seeing my friends that I missed over the summer, but formal education was not for me. Regardless, I, like most everyone else, did my duty and saw it through. Now, as a real life adult, I like to think I’ve turned out alright, a feat that even surprises me sometimes.

So what did I learn from school? A lot actually… and I’ll share some of that for the kids of today. After all, who better to take advice from than a chef/horticulturist/reality television flunky that occasionally has to be scolded for letting his ego write this column rather than his authentic voice? What could go wrong?

So for the kids that actually read the newspaper, let me clear my throat. And for those who don’t, maybe this will find you somehow.
It’s not that serious. None of it. Of course making good grades and passing to the next year is important but never fall victim to the pressures that accompany learning.

You will always be your loudest critic, so lighten up on yourself and learn to let things be. There’s always tomorrow.

Be kind, always be kind. Be kind when it’s not cool to be kind. Someone will always benefit from it and you will too. Don’t limit your kindness either. It won’t always present itself and you may have to dig deep, but people remember the good you do, and they also remember the bad. So remember how you want to be remembered.

Believe it or not, this doesn’t last long so don’t be in a hurry. It may feel like forever, but school, high school especially, becomes a mere blip on life’s big radar. Just wait ‘til you’re a grown up, you suddenly want it all to slow down.

Do the thing that you are afraid to do. Whether it be trying out for a sports team, drama club, running for class officer or trying out for band. Whatever it may be, do the thing. You won’t get this chance again and whatever excuse you’ve made not to do it, is just that, an excuse. I promise everyone else is just as scared as you are.

Get to know your teachers, coaches, administrators, and school employees. You know… all of those adults that are spending seven hours at school alongside you. This may come as a surprise but they are human beings too. They also were in your shoes once. Scared, excited, and bored. Get to know them, you’d be surprised at the person you may meet.

Don’t forget who you are. This one is a challenge because you may not even know who you are yet. But never let anyone else decide for you. Hold true to what you believe and hold on tight. You have many different versions of yourself to come, well into adulthood, so get to know each one and never forget them along the way.

You don’t have to agree with something or someone in order to give them respect. Give it when it’s due and earn it for yourself.
Remember it’s not a race. School is more like an endurance competition. For some it will come easy, and for others it can’t end soon enough. But it will and when it does, you’ll realize that it wasn’t as bad as it seemed. Nothing rarely is.

But more than anything, just be kind. I can write a few paragraphs about what to do, but I could write a book on what not to do. There is no right or wrong way to go through school, but there is there is a right way to treat others along the way. Make your hello match your goodbye and remember how you want to be remembered.

Just think, you’ll be an adult one day and then and only then will you realize, it’s all still not that serious.

Clay Bowen is a Columbus native who cooked professionally as a chef in fine dining for 12 years and appeared on the third season of Top Chef. He is also a licensed landscape horticulturist. Bowen writes in his free time and is working on a book about his experiences and travel. Email him at [email protected].