By Amanda Mills
Every August, my social media feed fills with first-day-of-school pictures. New backpacks. Fresh sneakers. Big smiles. A few nervous faces. Parents standing on front porches trying to capture a moment that somehow feels both exciting and bittersweet.
Last year was the first August that I didn't have a child to photograph before school. After years of scrambling to get everyone out the door, remembering lunches, checking homework one last time, and insisting on "just one more picture," that chapter quietly came to an end. My son is grown now. While there's a part of me that's grateful to have survived those days, I'll admit there's also a little tug at my heart when I see everyone else's photos.
Those years go by much faster than we ever imagined. Maybe that's why supporting our local schools means even more to me today.
At Dixie Electric and DE Fastlink, you'll see our names on scoreboards, athletic programs, banners, yearbooks, and event sponsorships. Those are certainly advertisements, but to me, they represent something much bigger. They're an investment.
An investment in the students who will one day become our teachers, nurses, linemen, accountants, business owners, welders, or community leaders.
When you see our logo at a football game or on a gym wall, I hope you'll know there are employees sitting in those same stands cheering alongside you. We're parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and neighbors who care deeply about the success of the communities we serve.
Our support doesn't stop with writing a check. Throughout the school year, our employees visit classrooms to read to preschoolers, teach electrical safety, introduce students to career opportunities in the utility industry, and help young people learn how to make smart, informed decisions in today's digital world. Whether we're speaking to elementary students about staying safe around power lines or helping older students explore careers they may have never considered, we're investing in people just as much as programs.
As a mom, it makes me proud to be part of an organization that understands supporting education isn't just good community relations, it's part of building stronger communities for generations to come.
So, as another school year begins, I hope every student has a year filled with growth, every teacher knows how appreciated they are, and every parent takes the picture—even if your child rolls their eyes. One day, you'll be scrolling through those memories with a grateful heart, wondering how the years passed so quickly.
My hope is that the next time you're choosing an internet provider, a bank, an insurance company, or another local service, take a moment to notice who is investing in your child's school and your community. The businesses you see supporting your local teams, classrooms, and school events are making a conscious decision to give back. Those investments say a great deal about a company's commitment to the community it serves.
At Dixie Electric and DE Fastlink, we're proud to invest in the students who will one day shape the future of the communities we all call home. Here's to a safe, successful, and memorable school year for everyone.