Back to School: Teachers Share Their First-Day Memories

The start of a new school year may stir up a mix of excitement and nerves, and not just for students, but for teachers and professors, too. Jakob, host of the BustED Pencil’s “Producer’s Choice” episodes, asks Dr. Tim Slekar and Dr. Johnny Lupinacci to share their own back-to-school memories and experiences. It leads to a pretty entertaining discussion.

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Listen to the complete episode of BustED Pencils here:

Slekar recalls feeling more joy than dread on the first day of school – even now.  

“Every year back to school changes my mood into sheer excitement,” he explains. “Even as a kid, I couldn’t wait to get back. It wasn’t the end of summer I looked forward to—it was hanging out with friends and being part of that community.”

Lupinacci shares that his most difficult transition came when he left the high school classroom to become a college professor. He moved across the country and started fresh, but found himself overdressed in suits while colleagues were in flannel. 

“I was laughed at. People asked if I thought I was the president,” he says. “That whole fall was tough. I missed my students, my colleagues, and the rhythm of the high school community.”

Both professors tell Jakob the shift from teaching in K-12 schools to working on a college campus meant big changes. There’s more independence but also less of the daily classroom spirit. And unlike elementary or high school teachers who decorate and shape their own classrooms, college instructors often move from building to building, teaching in sterile spaces.

Still, creating camaraderie is key, and it starts on day one. 

Lupinacci likes to use art-based activities, asking students to draw a place that has shaped them, while Slekar leans on icebreakers like the classic “name game” or even trust exercises.

But not every activity is a hit.

Both professors admit to Jakob they can’t stand the infamous “human knot” or trust falls.

With humor, honesty, and a few stories of awkward first days, it’s a reminder that going back to school is about more than schedules and classes. It’s about building trust, finding community, and embracing change.