Hey, Rise Up Community!
We can hardly believe it’s already September, and back-to-school season is in full swing! When I was a student, this time of year was always exciting. I looked forward to reuniting with friends, showing off new outfits, meeting my teachers, and of course, the countdown to my October birthday!
But as I think about today’s young people heading back to school, I can’t help but reflect on what middle school Ericka really needed from her family and community to thrive. From my 13-year-old perspective, success started with a Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper, all-white leather Reeboks, and Lip Smacker lip gloss—essentials for surviving the hallways of Mrachek Middle School.
Yet, looking back, I know I needed so much more. That year, I tried out for sports for the first time, navigated major friendship drama, and dealt with big transitions at home. I faced pre-algebra and felt like a failure when I couldn’t keep up (literal tears in class). It was the year I thought being popular was more important than staying loyal to my “uncool” friends, and yes, my friends and I sneaked cigarettes from our parents, thinking we were rebels.
Sound familiar? For many of us, middle school wasn’t just tough—it was a turning point. And while the Trapper Keeper helped keep my papers organized, it did nothing to manage the chaos I felt inside. What I really needed was a caring community of adults—someone to tutor me in math, run basketball drills, and, most importantly, remind me that I was enough. I needed someone to tell me that having good friends was more valuable than being popular and that smokers' breath was just gross.
I needed a mentor. And if you think back to your own middle school years, you might realize you needed one, too.
Now, as adults, we have the chance to be the person we once needed. We can mentor, coach, encourage, tutor, and listen to the young people in our lives. They need a caring community of adults to support them, especially in a school year filled with both challenges and opportunities. You can be a part of that journey.
At Rise Up, our vision is to help young people become their best selves, but they can’t do it alone—they need us. They need you. So, as the back-to-school season continues, we encourage you to step up and get involved in a young person’s life. Find the younger version of yourself in someone else and RISE UP to the occasion. You've got this!
