ACE EVERY CLASS WITH NATIONAL BOOK STOREʼS BACK-TO-SCHOOL BLOWOUT

Imay not be an Olympian, but I think I know how athletes feel the night before a big game: excited, unable to sleep, looking forward to the big day. That was always the mood I was in on the last day of summer, the last few hours before I had to wake up for the first day of school. While I dreaded the end of lazy days of doing nothing (who didn’t?), my friends and I were excited for what was about to come. It was the start of a new grade, with a new set of teachers, and subjects that we had yet to learn. Going back to school felt like an annual adventure in that way, and I had to be prepared.

How did I do just that? With the right tools, of course. I knew it was time to start preparing for school when my mom would come home from a day of enrollment. Aside from a new set of uniforms and prescribed textbooks, she’d come back with my favorite thing in the world: a list of prescribed school materials. Illustration boards? Cartolina? Watercolor? Protractors? Whoa. My mind couldn’t help but think of what our new teachers had in store for us, and what we’d be doing with all the things we had to bring. The trip to National Book Store to get all those things was, truly, a summer highlight. We usually did it during the weekend, and I was so excited for it that I didn’t mind if I had to go with my mom to do her other errands before or after we went. (Check out that self-discipline. I feel you, Olympians.)

Times were simpler back then, but they were great. It feels a little nostalgic to think of those younger days, especially whenever I drop by NBS lately. The back-to-school buzz is infectious. NBS stores have designated back-to-school zones, where school materials are thoughtfully arranged for easy pickup. For busy parents or older siblings who are looking for an in-and-out shopping experience, NBS now offers an array of Grab & Go packs, with each one specific to students’ needs and grade levels. (They’ve got packs for Grades 1-3 and Grades 4-6, in both pouches and even backpacks.) To those who don’t have time to visit the store, no problem. Simply visit nationalbookstore.com to get the best NBS back-to-school selections — best part is, with a minimum purchase, they offer free shipping nationwide. They also do express delivery, as long as the items you’re looking for are in stock. Seriously, the possibilities are really endless — whether for the items you choose or the way you’d like to buy them.

Like I said, it’s practically an Olympic sport. And there’s nothing like a fresh set of notebooks to make you feel like you’d love to go back to school again. Should this be a serious consideration, National Book Store now has a new place for budding minds. NBS College along Quezon Avenue is now accepting students, and offers six courses for a wide range of interests. With programs such as Entrepreneurship, Accountancy, Tourism Management, Library and Information Science, Computer Science, and Accounting Information System, there’s definitely something for everyone. They also offer scholarships based on need or merit.

School happens every year, yet we still get excited for it. With the right mindset, the right tools, and a can-do attitude, there really is no stopping us from making the most out of the new school year. On days when we feel a little weary about all the homework we have to do, it’s good to remember the feeling of starting fresh. The smell of brand new notebooks, the sight of rainbow markers, and the thought of making new friends and taking on an entirely new adventure… it’s why we’re excited to go back to school, and that’s why we always get ready for it.

There’s nothing like a fresh set of notebooks to make you feel like you’d love to go back to school again.

First in line: Excited back-to-school shoppers head to National Book Store SM North EDSA to get started on their school shopping.

The pen is mighty: Students find the perfect writing partner at National Book Store's pen bar.

Drawn out: The National Book Store Grab & Go Pack Drawing Set is perfect for budding artists.

Red team: This Backpack to School for Grades 4 to 6 (P399) includes eight notebooks, a pouch, three ballpens, a box of crayons, a pair of scissors, a ruler, a bottle of liquid glue, a set of pad paper, a pad of construction paper.

Blue team: This Backpack to School for Grades 1 to 3 (P329) includes six notebooks, a pouch, three pencils, one box of crayons, an eraser, one pair of scissors, three short brown envelopes, one sharpener, one glue stick, and one ruler.