5 Of The Best Tips For Returning Montana Students.

In the upcoming days and weeks, tens of thousands of Montanans will be heading back to school.

Tears will be shed by those Moms watching their babies get on the bus for the first time, while those older kids will worry and wonder if they'll fit in and have the perfect "first day" outfit picked out. No matter your age, the first day of school is a big deal and can be stressful, especially for those who are attending a new school for the first time.

If I might, I'd like to share with you some things I wish someone would have told me when I was going to school. If they had, I think it might have helped me out along the way.

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5 things to know about going back to school

First, you aren't the only one who is nervous or worried about how you look or if people will like you.

We're all insecure and we all have a desire to be liked. So when you're feeling like you're the "weirdest" kid in your class, chances are the person sitting next to you thinks they're the "weirdest" kid in the class. It's a lesson that isn't always easy to learn, but we all have our self-doubts.

Next, school is not a forecast of the future of your life.

This is a tough one to learn for some folks. All of those things that seem so important right now. Social status, who you're dating, what type of car you drive, none of that will matter in 5, 10, 15, or 20 years. It just won't. You can completely reinvent yourself over and over again. You are in charge of your path and where that path leads you.

Third, don't be afraid to expand your horizons.

We tend to surround ourselves with people that are like us. They think like us, they look like us, they act like us. However, it's been my experience that in life, the most interesting people I've met were nothing like me. Don't be afraid to step outside of the box and learn about others.

Respect those who've invested time in you.

Mark Twain once said "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."  Whether it's your parents, teachers, or mentors, listen to those who have your best interest at heart. They aren't there to squash your dreams, they're there to help you realize who you are and who you could become.

Finally, enjoy each day.

Time goes fast and before you know it, you're an adult with real responsibilities, bills, and commitments that make you long for your younger days. So enjoy each day that comes your way. Don't be in a hurry to be an "adult", as that comes soon enough. You have your whole life to be a grown-up and just a few years to be a kid.

Make the most of it.