Every parent remembers the first day of kindergarten, but few of us actually know what it felt like from the other side of the classroom door. In this premiere episode of a new season of Mindshift, host Dr. Christopher Villarreal sits down with kindergartner Noah just days after his first week of school to hear, in his own words, what it was really like. Later, school counselor Natasha Hall joins to unpack the psychology behind those first day nerves.

Discover why kids and adults feel the exact same mix of fear and excitement when facing something new, and why the only real difference is how well we've learned to regulate it. Natasha breaks down why familiar faces and spaces help kids feel safe enough to focus on everything else that's new, and shares the idea of a ”fresh start effect” that can help any of us bounce back from a rough day or a rough year.

Whether your child is starting kindergarten this year, has been in school for a decade, or you haven't set foot in a classroom in thirty years, this episode is a reminder that the first day feeling never really goes away.