SQL & PL/SQL

Hi,

I need help converting the above date format. In the database the date is stored as a VARCHAR with the format yyyy-mm-dd

but I would like it changed to DATE with the format mm/dd/yyyy. I tried the following and I keep getting invalid month

select To_date(date_value, 'mm/dd/yyyy') as date_value from table

When I try to convert it to char first before converting to date I get an invalid number error

select to_date(to_char(date_value, 'mm/dd/yyyy'), 'mm/dd/yyyy') as date_value from table

What do I do?

Thanks for your help!!!