preparing to return to school

Are you going back to school? Are you a little nervous, excited or scared? The first day back can be kind of rough, but it can be even harder if you're returning to school after an illness or injury.

keep your connections with school

After a hospital stay—especially if it is long—you may be both nervous and excited about going back to school. There are many things that you and your parents can do to prepare before you return.

• Try to remain involved in school as much as you can, even when you are in treatment. Work with your school and teachers to try to stay on top of schoolwork—even when you are dealing with treatment. Consider having a hospital teacher or tutor help you with assignments and lessons. However, let’s face it, your health is more important than school work, so be careful not to get too stressed out trying to “catch up.” Your teachers and counselors should understand. If you feel uncomfortable or want more help speaking to them, ask your parents to discuss your progress with them directly.
  
• Keep your teacher(s), counselors, and school nurse up-to-date about your medical condition. Remember, they are there to help any way they can.
  
• If you are in the hospital or must remain home for an extended period, encourage your friends to visit you. Support from your friends and classmates is REALLY important. We know that at times it can be awkward to have your friends see you ill, but it is much worse to be sick and feel alone. We encourage you to invite your friends and classmates to visit you in the hospital or at home. Take the time to talk and just hang out with them.

back to school

• Plan to ask a friend or several friends to meet you at school on that first day back. You will have an easier time going back to school with the help of at least a few close friends.
  
• Although it is not your job to teach classmates about your illness and treatment, you may find it helpful to explain to them what you’ve been going through. You may find that, at first, some of your friends may be shy talking with you about your illness. In fact, some teachers make an extra effort to help in this way by taking a few minutes to help “break the ice” on that first day back. You can also help by bringing it up and sharing what you’re feeling and what you need from them to help you through this difficult time. We’ve learned from other teens that being direct seems to really help!
  
• Take care of yourself. We know that when you return to school you want life to go back to “normal.” Yet, we also know that returning to school can be really tiring. Although treatment and/or surgery may have changed the way you look on the outside, you are still the same person on the inside. You want to stay in the loop and get invited to do fun things. But don’t feel pressured if you don’t feel up to doing all of the activities you are invited to. Feel free to ease into being with friends; just tell them what is going on, and that they shouldn’t take your saying “no” personally. Ask them to continue inviting you, and you’ll join in as soon as you can! Remember, communication is the key to easing the aloneness that can come from dealing with your illness.

Thanks to Ernest Katz, Ph.D., Julia Challinor, RN, Ph.D., MA. ED., and Mitch Golant, Ph.D. for their permission to use and adapt the above information.