Coming to college after leaving an all-girls high school, I found that this experience really is not as common as I thought it was. Here I am thinking at least some of the people that I am going to meet in college were going to have an all-girls high school in their past, but silly Sarah, I was wrong.

Instead of having similarities with my new peers, people responded with “WAIT WHAT, you went to an all-girls school? What was it like? Have you ever talked to a boy?”

I was always surprised by these questions because, yes I went to an all-girls school, why would I be lying about that? Yes, it was a good time and OBVIOUSLY, I have spoken to boys.

College came as a rude awakening to me because, when I got here I realized that I had not worn “real-people” clothes to school in four years. So when the first day of college rolled around, and my pleated skirt and forest green sweater were not hanging directly in front of me, I was like “OMG.”

High school, what a time to be alive. At an all-girls school, as you would expect, there are so many differences from a co-ed school. You can go to school, straight out of bed, hair in a kind-of ponytail, kind-of bun. You’re never stressed because you know your comfy, plaid skirt and torn apart penny loafers will always be waiting for you every morning as you wake up six minutes before you have to leave.

A same-sex school gives you the opportunity to build a sisterhood with your class. The main goal was building this foundation so each and every student felt like part of a family. In times of tragedy or celebration, I see this sisterhood come together, even after four years to be there for each other.

There was an emphasis on the power of women in the community and in the workplace. We were taught that we could do anything we put our minds to because we were strong and independent. Each and every class forced leadership and confidence on each student.

Our education was built on learning what it is like to be a strong woman in society and because of this, I am so proud of where I came from and who I have become because of it.

Looking back on my time in high school, I view it as an experience not just some place I went to take classes and leave. I have nothing but amazing things to say about attending an all-girls school. It absolutely changed the way I look at my future.

I am proud of each one of my sisters who I have graduated with. It is amazing to see where they have gone so far with their academic and athletic careers and I can not wait to see where this takes them.

So yes, I am most definitely thanking the academy for my pleated skirt, navy tights and the sisters I have made along the way.