Hello, I’m Dash. Thanks for joining me today for another Fairyland Adventure. Today is Skye’s first day at school. She’s a little nervous, yet I’m sure she’ll have a good time. Let’s see if she does!

Skye’s first day at Academy/School

Skye looked at the tree hollow that was her new classroom. Then she looked at her mother. Biting her lower lip, she spoke quietly.

‘Are you sure I have to go? Can’t I stay home with you.’

Her mother had a soft smile. ‘Yes, we have fun together, but it is time for you to learn more than I can teach you. You’ll learn amazing magic, ride unicorns, and go on incredible school outings to wonderous places. Doesn’t that sound more fun than being at home with boring me?’

‘Sort of,’ responded Skye.

Her mother continued. ‘Besides, academy is not just about learning, it’s about making friends and having fun. Doing silly things. Eating fun foods.’

‘That wouldn’t be horrible.’ Said Skye.

‘And what did your Pop say?’ Asked her mother.

‘Sometimes, the thing that scares us most becomes our best memory.’ Responded Skye in a slightly brighter voice.

Skye twisted her mouth in thought. Looked at her mother then at the classroom. She paused for a moment, then nodded her head, before speaking again.

‘Well, I’m off to make the best memories ever!’ 

The words were more confident than she felt. Her mother hugged her close. Skye thought she lingered a little longer than usual, yet she didn’t mind. With one final look at her mother, and her Pop’s words in her mind, Skye headed towards the tree hollow.

Waiting at the door was the most beautiful fairy she had ever seen. With long flowing hair dotted with daisies, skin that sparkled in the sunshine like crystals, and the most vibrant purple wings that Skye had ever seen. She introduced herself as Miss Daisy.

Skye nervously introduced herself, before Miss Daisy led her to a twin desk, where another student was already sitting. The teacher smiled at them both.

‘Skye, this is Blue Bell. I’m pairing you up, as I think you have a lot in common.’ With another smile the teacher left.

Skye looked at Blue Bell. Blue Bell looked at her, tilted her head, then smiled.

‘Do you think she put us together because we’re both blue?’ She asked.

‘Blue?’ Questioned Skye.

‘Yeah, the sky is blue, and my name is blue. Pretty obvious don’t you think?’

‘Not really,’ responded Skye as she sat down.

Blue Bell just looked at her, scrunched up her nose, and sat quietly till first break. As the class exited the hollow a brownie, Zizi, approached and said there was a magical cave just near the creek. And that the whole class was going to explore it. Zizi asked if Skye would join them.

Initially Skye hesitated, though her curiosity got the better of her, so she accepted to follow Zizi. ‘Just for a look.’ The whole class was there, and as a group they all entered the cave. As they did everything went black.

Skye rubbed her eyes as the sun was hitting them hard. Looking to the left she saw the tree hollow classroom. To her right, was her mother!

‘Are you right Skye. The first day of academy makes us all a little nervous. Remember what your Pop said.’

‘Sometimes, the thing that scares us most becomes our best memory.’ Responded Skye.

‘That’s right. So go and make some great memories!’ 

Her mother hugged her tight and left. Skye was a little, flabbergasted. Waiting at the door was Miss Daisy, who introduced herself.

Skye nervously introduced herself. Again. Before Miss Daisy led her to a twin desk. Again. The teacher smiled at them both. Again.

‘Skye, this is Blue Bell. I’m pairing you up, as I think you have a lot in common.’ With another smile the teacher left.

Skye looked at Blue Bell. Blue Bell looked at her, tilted her head, then smiled.

‘Do you think she put us together because we’re both blue?’ Blue Bell asked.

‘Because the sky is blue, and your name is blue?’ She responded.

‘Yes! You get it. We’re going to be great friends.’

Blue Bell nattered away, while Skye just nodded, till first break. As the class exited the hollow a brownie, Zizi, approached and said there was a magical cave just near the creek. And that the whole class was going to explore it. Zizi asked if Blue Bell and Skye would join them.

Skye was adamant she didn’t want to, though Blue Bell grabbed her by the hand and dragged her along, as they followed Zizi. ‘Just for a look.’ She said. The whole class was there, and as a group they all entered the cave. As they did everything went black.

Rubbing her eyes in the bright sun. Skye looked at her mother. Her mother smiled and reached out to hug her.

‘You’ll learn amazing magic, ride unicorns and go on incredible school outings to wonderous places.’ She said.

‘Yeah, yeah.’ Responded Skye as she finished the hug and headed towards the tree hollow. ‘See you soon mum!’ Her mother sniffed away a tear, before turning and leaving.

Skye let Miss Daisy introduce herself again, before they headed towards the twin desk, where Blue Bell was already sitting. The teacher smiled at them both.

‘Skye, this is Blue Bell. I’m pairing you up, as I think you have a lot in common.’ With another smile the teacher left.

Skye looked at Blue Bell. Blue Bell looked at her, tilted her head, then smiled.

‘Do you think she put us together because we’re both blue?’ She asked.

‘Blue?’ Questioned Skye.

‘Yeah, the sky is blue, and my name is blue. Pretty obvious don’t you think?’

Skye laughed. ‘Yes, it is.’

Skye sat down and she and Blue Bell were deep in conversation in no time. They really did have a lot in common. Both liked to play in mud. Both liked to laugh. Both liked adventures. They were chatting so much, they nearly missed the first break of the day.

Heading out for first break, it all seemed so familiar. As the class exited the hollow a brownie, Zizi, approached. Skye was ready to say ‘no’ as soon as Zizi asked them to follow her to the cave. Though she didn’t ask that. Instead, she asked if they would like to play a game of tag, which of course, she and Blue Bell said yes to. Soon the whole class was playing and laughing.

By the end of the day, Skye was sad to be heading home. Academy had been wonderful, well except for the glitch at the start. Pop was waiting for her, and asked how the day had gone.

‘Did you have a wonderful day?’

‘Yes Pop, I did. I wasn’t sure at first.’ She answered.

‘Your Mum said you headed off like a storm. I’m so proud of you.’ Pop said.

‘But Pop, it didn’t start that way.’ Skye wanted to tell him, yet she wasn’t sure he’d believe her.

‘Hmmm.’ He responded. ‘You didn’t head towards the magical cave, did you?’

Skye’s face brightened. ‘Yes, I did!’

‘Well, that explains the bravery your Mum told me about. That’s a unicorn cave. It’s there to help first year students to feel braver and more confident. Not many know about it. So how many times did you go through it?’

‘Two.’ Said Skye.

‘Well, that’s impressive. I went through it five times!’ Remarked Pop.

‘Really?’ Asked Skye.

‘Yes. I was a little nervous my first day. As you can tell.’ Pop smiled at Skye.

Skye nattered all the way home, telling Pop about the day. On the way, they made one stop, to sit on a rock and eat some Krunky Doo biscuits Nana made.   Skye slept well that night and was keen for school the next morning!

New places and activities can make us nervous, as Skye was on her first day. Though she ended up enjoying herself and made an awesome friend in Blue Bell. She was lucky there was a magical cave to speed up the process. Humans don’t have that, yet we do have the ability to try again.

Human magic is in the ability to change and learn. If something doesn’t work out as we hope, is scary or makes us nervous, then we can work hard to learn or change.  Whether we are starting a new school, learning to ride a bike, need to talk in front of others – these are all things we can get better at.

If you find that things are not getting better, then look at what you can do to change it. If you take the same action every time, you will get the same result. So, change your actions. This should change the results. Think of life, like the magical cave. If the first day doesn’t work, try something different the next day. Eventually it won’t be scary. You won’t be nervous. You may learn something. You may make a friend. And you may enjoy yourself.  How awesome is that?

Thanks for listening. See you soon!