There are not very many things that I miss about high school.

You see, I was decently involved in my school. I was on the varsity swim team freshman through junior year, but couldn't do it senior year due to a developing injury. I was a cheerleader my freshman year but didn't make the team sophomore year.

I was also apart of the freshman mentor program my junior and senior year, but that really only lasted for the first semester. Something all of these activities have in common is not only did I not take part all four years but I just never felt like I fit in. I felt like the odd man out. I never really had a friend group.

I had a couple of friends, but they all had their other friend groups they fell into. Me, on the other hand? I was just sort of there.

Choir was the one exception. Every day, I couldn't wait to be in choir class. I had been doing choir in school for years, and always looked up to the high school kids. It was the one place I felt like I belonged. It was my home away from home. If I was having a bad day, I knew that going to choir would help me forget about all the negativity, even if it was just for a little bit.

Each year, I kept with it. I would join the next choir up, falling more and more in love with it. But there was one year in particular that choir really changed my life. And that was my senior year. This was the year that I made our chamber choir, which consists of only 32 kids. Over 60 kids auditioned, and I almost didn't audition. I had nearly convinced myself I wasn't going to make it. But one day after concert choir, my teacher stopped me as I was leaving and asked me why my name wasn't on the sign-up list.

I told her what had been going through my head, and she told me to go put my name up there because she believed I had a great chance at making it. Hearing those words from her is something I will never forget and will forever be thankful for because I did the audition, and I cried tears of joy when I saw I had made it.

This chamber choir really did change my life for the better. Not only did it give me new confidence in my singing ability, but it gave me a sense of belonging. It gave me a family. We were all so close to one another, and even though I went into this group not knowing anyone, I came out with memorable friendships. It was easily the highlight of my high school career.

Because of choir, I have so many memories that I wouldn't have gotten to experience if I hadn't continued all four years. I wasn't required to do it every year, I did it because it brought me joy. Leaving choir class and my chamber choir family was very emotional, but I'm beyond blessed to have been a part of something so special.

I will also forever be grateful for my amazing choir teachers guiding me throughout the years and providing me, and many others, a safe place to be themselves.