Amy lay in her bed the night before school started, hugging her favorite teddy bear. The shadows on the wall seemed bigger than usual, and her little heart was racing. Tomorrow she would walk into a brand-new classroom, meet a teacher she didn’t know, and sit among children she had never seen before.
“What if nobody wants to be my friend?” she whispered to her teddy. “What if I forget how to write my letters?”
From the doorway, her mother peeked in. “Amy, still awake?”
Amy nodded. “I’m nervous, Mama.”
Her mother walked in, sat beside her, and stroked her hair. “It’s normal to feel nervous before something new. But do you know a secret?”
“What?” Amy asked.
“Every child in that classroom will be feeling the same way. And you, my brave girl, are going to do wonderfully. Here—” She tied a tiny pink ribbon around Amy’s wrist. “This is your courage ribbon. Whenever you look at it, remember that you’re never alone. I’m with you, even when I’m not right beside you.”
Amy smiled weakly. “Okay, Mama. I’ll try.”
The next morning, Amy woke up early. Sunlight spilled into her room, and her new school backpack was already waiting by the door. It was bright yellow with little flowers on the straps. She put it on and felt both proud and small at the same time.
At breakfast, her father kissed the top of her head. “Big day today! Our little star is off to school.”
Amy tried to smile but her stomach fluttered like a dozen butterflies.
Walking to school, she held her mother’s hand tightly. The streets seemed louder than usual, filled with children carrying backpacks and parents calling out reminders. Amy looked up at her mother.
“What if the teacher is strict?” she asked. “What if I forget where to sit?” “What if I have no one to play with?”
Her mother squeezed her hand gently. “School is a place where everyone is learning. Mistakes are just steps to getting better. And as for friends—sometimes you only need to smile, and a new friend will smile back.”
Amy wasn’t sure it could be that easy, but she nodded.
The building loomed larger than she expected. Children hurried in, some laughing, some clinging to their parents. Inside, the hallway buzzed with voices and footsteps.
Amy followed her mother to her classroom. The door was decorated with bright paper flowers, and a sign read: Welcome to First Grade!
A tall woman with kind eyes and a warm smile stood at the door. “Hello, you must be Amy. I’m Miss Anna, your teacher. We’re so glad you’re here.”
Amy whispered, “Hello,” and quickly walked to a desk near the corner. She set her pencils neatly in a row and kept her eyes on them.
The other children were chattering and laughing, already talking in groups. Amy felt very small in her corner.
Miss Anna began the morning with a cheerful voice. She asked everyone to introduce themselves. Amy’s turn came, and her cheeks grew hot.
“My name is Amy,” she said in the quietest voice.
Miss Anna smiled. “Welcome, Amy.”
The class clapped softly, and Amy felt a little better.
But when the teacher asked the children to answer a simple question about the alphabet, Amy hesitated. She wanted to raise her hand but was afraid of getting it wrong. So she stayed quiet, watching others answer.
When the bell rang for recess, children rushed outside to the playground. Amy walked slowly, holding her ribbon for courage.
She stood near the swings, watching a group of kids play tag. She wanted to join, but the words stuck in her throat. She decided to sit on a bench and unwrap her snack instead.
Just then, a boy running too fast tripped near her, knocking her crayons from her pocket onto the ground.
“Oh no!” Amy gasped, crouching to pick them up quickly.
The boy bent down too. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to bump you. I’m Tommy.”
Amy blinked. “It’s okay. I’m Amy.”
Tommy grinned. “Want to play tag with us?”
Amy hesitated, then remembered the ribbon on her wrist. “Okay,” she said softly.
And just like that, she was running with the group, laughing as the wind rushed past her. For the first time that day, the butterflies in her stomach flew away.
Back in the classroom, Miss Anna asked a question about numbers. Amy hesitated, then raised her hand slowly.
“Yes, Amy?” the teacher said kindly.
Amy answered in a shaky voice. When Miss Anna nodded and said, “Correct! Well done,” Amy felt warmth spread through her chest.
By the afternoon, Amy had laughed with Tommy and another girl named Sara. They shared cookies at lunch and drew pictures together.
She realized that school wasn’t just about lessons—it was also about new friends and small victories.
When the final bell rang, Amy’s mother was waiting outside. Amy ran to her, face glowing.
“So,” her mother asked, “how was it?”
Amy hugged her tightly. “At first I was scared. But then I made friends! And I answered a question right! And tomorrow I think it will be even better.”
Her mother kissed her forehead. “See? I told you. You’re braver than you think.”
That night, as Amy snuggled into bed, she looked at her ribbon and whispered, “I’m ready for tomorrow.”
And with a big smile, she drifted peacefully into sleep.
✨ Moral: The first day of school can feel scary, but with courage and kindness, new beginnings turn into wonderful adventures.