When you tell someone that you attended a magnet school from sixth to twelfth grade, most of the time you’re already mentally preparing your stock list of responses to the unavoidable questions that come with, “What is a magnet school?”

It’s not your average high school experience. And most of the time, when people ask what high school you attended, after you tell them, they respond with an eyebrow raise and nod of the head, as if to say, “Well, that explains it.” But I wouldn’t trade my years at our town’s creative arts high school for anything.

1. “So was your school like Fame or something?”

Every time someone asks you this question. Every time. And you just let out an awkward laugh and respond with, “totally.”

2. Sports weren’t really part of your high school experience.

I honestly could not have imagined anyone at my high school playing football. I mean, we were into ballet, guitar, and visual arts. Although, I’m sure our dancers and musical theater majors could show up any other high school’s cheerleading or dance team…

3. In fact, you didn't really have the typical high school experience.

And maybe no one has that experience as portrayed by Hollywood, but we didn’t really have cliques, unless you call the arts “majors” cliques, with the dancers, the singers, the instrumentalists. Oh, and no one was shoving other people's heads into toilets. I’d say that’s a good thing.

4. Dress code wasn’t really a thing.

You mean khakis and polos?! Ha! We creative types don’t do too well with that stuff... we were lucky enough to throw out the “creative expression” card, you know, as long as you weren’t flaunting certain body parts or offending anyone you could dress how you wanted. It was nothing to see friends clad in leotards and tights darting from class to class in the hall. Heck, all through sixth grade I rocked a mini skirt with images of sushi on it. (Okay, in that instance maybe dress code would have been a good thing.)

5. Competition for the talent show was fierce.

And you look forward to it every year, for obvious reasons.

6. Your teachers were pretty talented too.

Even your math and geography teachers had some serious musical talent.

7. Diversity.

I went from a small elementary school out in the country that was basically full of a bunch of white kids to the arts school downtown. It had people from all over the county, instead of just a small “zoned” district. That meant friends from all kinds of different backgrounds. I wasn’t sheltered, or accustomed to everyone being a certain way, or a certain color, or having a certain mindset. Man, was it beautiful.

8. Chances are, you knew everyone in your graduating class.

My graduating class had 70 people in it. None of them were strangers, and that was a good feeling. (And we also learned that a lot of us could fit into one hotel room; don't ask).

9. You’re wicked good at time management.

When it came down to crunch time with a show. And you had rehearsals every weeknight and on Saturdays, not to mention full loads of homework in the classes you were expected to do well in, you learned about a little something called organizing your time very well and very early.

10. You felt like you belonged.

Honestly, teenage years are something terrible. But getting through the most awkward years of your life with a bunch of open-minded and free-spirited people makes them slightly more bearable.

11. Graduation wasn't boring.

With all of that talent and personality, graduation was far from boring. I’d like to think we had some pretty good music performances too.

12. You made lasting friendships.

Whoever said you make your lifelong friends in college never attended an arts school. Those are some of the most amazing people you could ever encounter. I’ve held onto my high school friends well past graduation and will never let go.