My university is great. The friends I have made here are even better, but there is always a spot in your heart somewhere for the people back in your hometown. There always will be. Our high school friends deserve more credit.

These are the people you spent your entire school career with. From nap time to walking across the stage and grabbing your diploma together. You got the chance to grow up with them to see who they were and what kind of person they are becoming now. They were there whether you liked it or not.

There's an even greater handful you can proudly call your best friends. These are the people that have stuck with you through thick and thin in and out of high school. They are the ones you visit every time you return home from school, the ones you had sleepovers with in middle school, and your go-to people that you ran to Taco Bell with after an excruciating practice.

They were right by your side during football games on Friday night, Homecoming, Prom, extracurricular clubs, and when you just needed someone to talk to. If you were lucky enough, they were even in a few classes. They always knew who you were talking about when you said "Dave Potter." They probably know everything about him from some other source in the school or first hand. No one was a stranger. Good or bad, you were in this together.

So high school friends, thank you. Thank you for accepting me when I didn't want to share my toys, when I went through my awkward middle school phase, and when I messed up in high school. I'll never forget you.