(This post is a paid partnership with Jordan Brand)

Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane to our first day of school. Regardless of the butterflies we may have felt, laying out our back to school outfits was a special time. Growing up in the Southside of Houston, Jordan sneaker style always reigned supreme. A fresh pair of Jumpman kicks gave us a uniform of confidence and a compliment to our creative expression. Air Jordans go beyond sneaker style and have woven the threads of legacy and love into their timeless history. As a mother that’s creating my own heritage story through a common bond of fly footwear, I want my kids to feel that same confidence I experienced decades ago. Staples always stand the test of time.

In the blink of an eye, we are back to school and children want to step into the hallways looking good and feeling good. Taking the inspiration from Michael Jordan himself, the youth are ready for a comeback season. MJ has had quite a few ‘comeback kid’ moments on the hardwood, and that resilient spirit is a foundation for the Jordan family. With new apparel and footwear hitting the e-shelves, the Jumpman uniform remains true to a comfortable yet cool design story. With an ethos rooted in playing an active role in empowerment through confidence, it’s time for the youngest members of the Jordan Family to make their comeback, and best believe they’ll set a new standard for learning in style.

One of the greatest elements of being immersed in sneaker culture is sharing that passion and creating more community. We love to say that ‘sneakers bring you to us, and community is why you stay’. Part of the Jordan Brand Family ‘Back to School’ initiative is celebrating those moments of legacy, love, and the power of community voices. Athletes Mookie Betts and Dearica Hamby are proving that confidence runs in the family as they bring the Jumpman vision to life right in time for a new school year with a story time session. Check out the story ‘AJ and the Comeback Kid’ below.

The story follows a young legend in the making, Kai, as he approaches his first day of school. While in a dream that night, Kai is introduced to Jumpman Academy by his new animated friend, AJ the Cat. A common theme throughout the story is the importance of hard work. The final leg of the story is where Kai is in awe of the Hall of Champions. As he sees a picture of himself on the wall, he sees that he can be just like the trailblazers that have paved the way of greatness. A deeper message of representation is synonymous with the Jordan family and how it can influence a beautiful path for the younger generation. With subtle nurturing, Kai is excited to start his first day in a fresh Jordan fit from head to toe.

“Things get really fun around here, as long as you put in hard work!”

We have all been that kid feeling discouraged by some form of adversity. It’s time to start a new school year for all the comeback kids and we can’t forget about the cool parents that know what it feels like to flex that sneaker style. Connecting the dots of culture at the intersection of sports and lifestyle creates a unique avenue for new traditions. Back to school will hit different this year with a new set of game changers.