Remember when you looked forward to going to school? Remember when the only colors that mattered were on your fingers, creating secondary colors? Remember the days before cell phone bills, gas money and college applications?

Elementary school was six years ago, but memories are vivid.

“I miss being the freakin’ teacher’s favorite student; I was the student of the week every week,” says Isolina Campbell — Cronin.

Those were the years, when worries were cast upon parents. Teachers weren’t worried about Times New Roman and 12 point font and double spaced. As long as it was legibly written, they were satisfied.

“I miss waking up without any worries or problems,” says Vanessa Newman.

When you think about it, the playground was like corporate America, everyone had their own job that kept the playground stable. There were the double dutchers, the athletes, the tetherball players, the ones that played on the big toy and the kids that played the state game. They all occupied the major branches of the playground. In high school, the only thing that changed was the playground. The double dutchers turned into cheerleaders, the athletes decided which sport to play, the tetherball players became volleyball and football players, while the state game champs ace their history test.

Now adulthood is approaching the threshold of our teenage lives. We have to make decisions that will mold our tomorrows. Thoughts of the future are further developing themselves and when they find themselves traveling back in time, reality reveals itself once again.

“Growing up is happening way too fast, I miss the simplicity of being a kid, having no worries,” says Ellissa Abbott

“It feels good to know that I’m growing into the person I’ll be for the rest of my life,” says Monique Tep.

We are no longer the children that got away with anything, and worries are beginning to come by the day. We are nearly adults and soon enough, we will have adult responsibilities. It is not the game that changes, we simply move onto bigger playgrounds.