Do I Look Old Enough To Have A Kid Going To High School???!

AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!!! Tonight was 8th grade "Transition Night" at the East High School here in Sioux City, where Zach will be attending classes this fall.... I can't believe he will soon be in high school!! I still remember his first day of kindergarten like it was yesterday!!!
When we arrived at the school tonight, there were signs welcoming the "Class of 2012" (that really isn't that far off, is it???!) We were introduced to the Principal and the three Assistant Principals (they divide the kids up by the letter of their last name) and the four guidance counselors (also divided by last name). Zach has Mr. Todd for an Asst. Principal and Mr. Lucas for a counselor. Most of the talk from them was about preparing for college, taking college courses while you are still in high school, special programs offered by the school for kids who want to go into engineering, etc. There was also someone there from ICAN (Iowa College Assistance Network) talking about scholarships, financial aid for college, etc. It was really intimidating, because I am sitting there thinking... my kid is only going to be a freshman!!! SLOW DOWN FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!! I don't even think we talked about college until we were Juniors in high school. But they say that in this day and age, with the workforce constantly changing, kids need to be more prepared than ever. So now we start thinking about college while we are trying to adjust to high school.... Next thing you know, I will have to be thinking about college when Brianna is just trying to go to middle school!!!
The last part of the evening was a tour of the high school to see where the classrooms are, etc. I know where some things are from going to the school for sports, etc. But when our "tour guide" was taking around... up and down steps, around corners, down lots of halls, right turns, left turns... I had NO CLUE where we were most of the time!! I was really glad when we got back to the gym because this was "familiar" turf!!! I asked Zach later what he thought... he said he will never remember where all those rooms are come August!!! He also doesn't like the idea of his classes being spread out all over the school... at the middle school, all the 8th grade classes are on one floor, 7th grade on their own floor, etc. I am sure he will be just fine!!! Many parents that I have spoken to that have already been through this have said that it is very intimidating, but once the kids get to school, the upperclassmen and the teachers are really great about helping the freshman kids around!!! At least I will have six months to get used to this idea... high school??? NO WAY!!!!! GET OUTTA HERE!!! (Jeez... where did all the time go???)