private static MySqlConnection getConnection()
        {
            if (connection == null)
            {
                // Create and open a connection to the database.
                connection = schoolDb.accessDatabase();
            }

            if (connection.State == System.Data.ConnectionState.Closed)
            {
                // Try to open the connection.
                try {
                    connection.Open();
                } catch (Exception e) {
                    // If unable to connect, output the exception to the console
                    // and return null.
                    Console.Write(e);
                }
            }
            return(connection);
        }