Back-To-School Flashback: RaiseMe Celebrates BTS!

This year we also hosted a “School Dress Competition” where the team found an old school photo, tried to dress for work as closely to their photo as possible, and then posted a then & now photo comparison! We voted in Slack and the winner received a Donors Choose gift card to use towards a classroom project of their choice! 

Check out a few photos and back to school memories and be sure to scroll to the bottom to see the winning photo comparison!

My favorite thing about the first day of school was buying all new school supplies and organizing all of it in my desk, and color coding all of my notebooks, folders, and binders. I loved organizing my planner, meeting my teachers, and finding out where I would sit with all of my friends in each class! I also did all my summer reading before day 1. (I was kind of an overachiever and nerd, I know.) I most remember my first day of second grade, because that was the year I moved from Texas to Tennessee and became an Oak View Owl. It was scary meeting new friends, but I ended up meeting some girls who I would know throughout high school that day!”

– Megan Wanee Mullins

I remember always being excited for school to start. The county fair was the highlight of the summer and finished with a livestock auction. Selling my pigs provided me with money to buy new school clothes each year and put a small amount away to buy livestock again the following year.”

– Katie Bainbridge

I remember the first day of 4th grade. I wore my brand new, bright orange Roxy t-shirt, LimitedToo shorts and my new rolling backpack! I hadn’t figured out my curls yet so I brushed them out and did a big poofy ponytail. I was super nervous about starting at a new school, but thankful that both of my brothers were starting at the school on the same day. I felt so relieved that they could be my backup plan for recess in case I needed friends to play with. It ended up being absolutely fine and I LOVED 4th grade! (Go Manchester!! Gators forever!) 

– Mariah Gonzales

I call this first grade chic.”

– Lauren Hoehn

First day of school in uniform!”

– Preston Silverman

First day of 2nd grade with Ms. Pospisal. Should I bring back the glasses?”

– Eric Lee

I am not sure which year of elementary school this was, but it honestly could be any because I wore a bow on top of my head for about 8-10 consecutive years. I loved school so I was always pumped to head back! Go Westridge Wildcats!”

– Sam Schulte

1st day of 10th grade in India”

– Rajesh Agarwal

This is 1st grade maybe? Why’d they always have us stare off into the distance? I met my very best friend to this day that year though!”

– Arisbeth Manzo

First Day of Kindergarten at The Little Red School House”

– Amanda Collins

And the winner of our School Dress Competition… Britt Bingham! 

Good luck to all of the students who just headed back to school, we’re rooting for you!

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Mariah Gonzales

First and foremost, Mariah really loves snacks. She also loves people. She is a Teach for America alum turned ed-tech People Operations Manager with a side hustle co-leading RaiseMe’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy & programming.