The first day of a new school year can be exhilarating — and stressful.

As a teacher, you wonder if you’re fully prepared to meet the challenges of the year ahead. You wonder how you’ll be able to juggle it all, even though, each year, you do! As a student, there’s a whole different set of worries — no doubt amplified by the alienating staccato beat of social media posts, which offer up an idealized version of life, absent of these worries, to compare your own life to.

It’s important to not lose sight of the exciting parts of this day: Seeing friends again, meeting new people, easing back into extracurriculars, learning new things.

This is the start of something new and there’s nothing to fear. Teachers, we’re here to support you — remember that you are playing a crucial role in our society by educating the next generation and we’re grateful for your work. Students, your parents, guardians, friends and neighbors are rooting for you. This community wants to see you succeed.

To students, faculty and staff at Tri-Lakes schools: We wish you the best of luck as you enter this new school year.