SOUTH POINT — Morning came a little earlier Wednesday for a certain group in the county. A group that may have only one thing in common, but something they may share for years.

They’re students and they’re back in school. The first day for them brought the usual litany of nerves, excitement and wonder on why did summer go so quickly.

Kyra Carter began her junior year at South Point High on Wednesday, but gave herself a headstart to get acclimated to a new routine.

While summer meant sleeping in until 10 in the morning, Carter spent the past week with her alarm set at 6:30, just to make sure she was ready when it counted.

“It is a little different getting into the schedule, but I try to stay focused to keep all distractions away,” she said.

This is Jessie Dickess’s senior year at South Point High and the future English or history teacher herself found her enthusiasm high.

“You have great teachers. There is no reason not to want to come back,” she said.

At the far eastern end of the county Rachel Moyer and Adrienne Goodwin were contemplating what it was like to enter their senior year at Fairland High and remembering school years past.

“The day’s been pretty crazy,” Moyer said. “It is funny to see all the freshmen. They look so confused. I was so nervous my freshman year, but it gets better.”

Goodwin said it was starting to hit that this would be her last year of high school.

“I am realizing that this is really it,” she said. “I want to get in the mindset of making the most of it, to not let it slip away.”

Out behind the middle school at Chesapeake fifth and sixth graders were showing that a lunchtime recess can put some fun in an academic day as they jumped rope and wiggled hula hoops around their waists.

For the most part, the first day was a time to get back into the routine and see their old friends. But there was still some sense of anticipation about the upcoming year.

“It’s kind of exciting and new. You don’t know the new teachers,” Makenna Ryan, a sixth grader with dreams of becoming a lawyer, said. “Will they be nice teachers and will you do well in class.”