Change has been a word used quite often in the past few years to describe the direction this country is going in and what people want to see throughout today’s world. On August 16, the teenagers and children of Baldwin County will experience a change themselves, a change in scenery that is. The doors of Baldwin County Public Schools open on August 16, and many students are already preparing for the upcoming school year which promises to be exciting and interesting for the students and the teachers.

Students at this time are pressing hard to find the right gear for the upcoming school year. Students go to retail stores such as Target and Wal Mart for inexpensive yet dependable backpacks, notebooks and other materials while visiting specialized stores for specific brands of clothing and footwear. Popular name brand computers and laptops also draw large amounts of attention from rising college students and many other high school students.  

 As the summer closes, the athletic seasons pick up with cross country, football and volleyball gearing up for what promises to be an exciting year. Football practice officially begins on August 2, with the first football games on August 20.  High School marching bands are attending camps during the summer months and will take to the fields during the football season with dazzling and colorful halftime shows while the cheerleaders keep the excitement at a high level with their cheers and dance performances. Volleyball kicks off with several talented teams including local 3A powerhouse Bayside Academy who look to claim another state title after winning 7 consecutive championships from 2001 to 2008. Defending 5A state champions Spanish Fort look to claim a second consecutive state title in cross country.

While the days are counting down to the upcoming school year, many students still are looking to enjoy their last couple of weeks by vacationing and hanging out with friends and family. While the oil spill has affected the tourist economy, locals still find enjoyment by going to the beach and hanging around the beautiful Baldwin County environment. Many teens enjoyed the visit from Jimmy Buffett and Friends coming out in full force to be part of the famed “Parrotheads”.

The summer is almost over but you can’t really tell the difference. Teens are still active in the workforce and look to earn a little more money before the school hours interfere with their work schedule. Athletes continue to train and prepare for the 2010-2011 athletic season. But when the summer is over, the summer state of mind will still exist in the hearts of many teens.