Page De Garde 20182019

Okay, picture this: it's late August, 2018. I'm rummaging through a chaotic stack of notebooks and loose papers, trying to salvage something vaguely resembling organization before the school year officially kicks off. My mom's yelling something about buying "enough glue sticks this time," and all I can think about is surviving another year of calculus. You know the feeling, right?

And that’s when it hit me: my notebooks looked... sad. Depressingly blank. They needed a little *oomph*. They needed a Page de Garde.

So, what *is* a Page de Garde, anyway? Well, think of it as the VIP treatment for your notebooks. It's that first page, the one that greets you like a loyal friend (or a slightly intimidating bouncer) before you dive into the actual subject matter. In 2018-2019, it was more than just writing "Math" in big, bold letters. It was an art form. Kinda.

Why Bother with a Page de Garde?

Seriously, why spend precious pre-algebra time decorating a notebook when you could be... well, doing anything else? Here's why:

Organization: Let's be honest, without it, everything ends up a swirling vortex of notes, doodles, and rogue crumbs. A clearly labeled Page de Garde helps you find what you need *fast*. (Trust me, future-you will thank you.)
Personalization: It's a tiny rebellion against the conformity of school. A chance to inject a little personality into the sea of standardized tests and mandatory readings. Think of it as your notebook's profile picture.
Motivation: A well-designed Page de Garde can actually make you *want* to open your notebook. Okay, maybe "want" is a strong word. But it definitely makes the prospect less daunting.

Remember those Trends?

Oh, the memories! 2018-2019 Page de Garde designs were a *wild* ride. Remember these?

Calligraphy Attempts: We all tried to be penmanship masters, didn't we? Armed with our sparkly gel pens and aspirations of Instagram fame, we attempted flourishes that usually ended up looking like a toddler attacked our notebooks with a highlighter. (No judgement, been there.)
Quotes Galore: Inspiring quotes were a must! From cheesy motivational slogans to slightly pretentious literary excerpts, we plastered our pages with words of wisdom (that we promptly forgot five minutes later).
Subject-Themed Doodles: Atom symbols for chemistry, geometric shapes for math, little Eiffel Towers for French... You get the idea. Artistic skills were optional. Enthusiasm was key.
Washi Tape EVERYTHING: Washi tape was basically the duct tape of the notebook world. Problems? Cover it with washi tape! Need to add some color? Washi tape! Just feeling bored? MORE WASHI TAPE!

Did you notice how I slipped "French" in there? C'est important! Page de Garde, being a French term, felt almost mandatory for French class. It was like the universe was telling you to embrace the language... or at least decorate your notebook with French-themed stickers.

Looking back, these Page de Garde creations are like little time capsules. They remind us of our aspirations, our anxieties, and our questionable artistic choices from that particular year. They're a quirky, imperfect reflection of who we were, stuck between summer freedom and the impending doom of exams. (Dramatic? Maybe. Accurate? Definitely.)

So, next time you're feeling nostalgic, dig out those old notebooks and take a trip down memory lane. You might be surprised at what you find. And who knows, maybe you'll even be inspired to create a new Page de Garde... just for fun.

What about you? What was *your* Page de Garde style back then? Let me know!