Back to School: Milestones, Momentum, and the Power of Showing Up

Back-to-school season always brings a rush of activity. Schedules, forms, supplies, after school activities, and a lot of reminders. In my house, we’re juggling three school starts: a senior, a sophomore, and an eighth grader. It’s a busy time, but also a reflective one.

With my oldest beginning his final year of high school, there’s a growing awareness that we’re nearing the end of a chapter. And while it’s tempting to think that preparing for the next phase begins senior year, the truth is, we’ve been building toward this moment for a long time. Conversations about future goals, independence, responsibility, and identity didn’t start this month. They started years ago. Probably sometime around the eighth grade, just like we’re doing now with our youngest.

It’s a reminder that the path to adulthood isn’t something that suddenly appears at graduation. It is a slow, deliberate walk. And what matters most along the way is not just what kids learn, but who is there to guide them, listen to them, and believe in them. I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes the biggest difference in a child’s life. It’s not the perfect routine or the right supplies. It’s presence. It’s knowing someone shows up, over and over, no matter what.

That is where CASA comes in. Many of the children we serve haven’t had the luxury of long-term stability or consistent adult guidance. They’ve faced disruptions, uncertainty, and too often, silence in moments that called for reassurance. CASA volunteers step into that space not as saviors, but as steady, trusted adults who say with their actions, I see you. I’m here. You matter.

Whether it’s checking in before a school meeting, attending a court hearing, or just remembering a child’s birthday, our volunteers offer more than advocacy. They offer presence. And during back-to-school season, when routines reset and expectations grow, that presence can be the difference between a child who simply gets through the year and one who truly grows.

As we begin a new school year, I encourage you to think about how you can show up for the children in your life, for the children in foster care, and for the programs working every day to lift them up.

Thank you for being part of this mission. Your support, your voice, and your presence matter more than you know.

Amanda Moody

Louisiana CASA Executive Director