I grew up in the small town of Cranesville, PA. The next small town over was Albion, where the elementary, middle and high school I went to was located. For thirteen years of my life I walked through the halls of those three buildings, and I have since realized I took that time for granted.

It's been two years since I graduated from Northwestern High School. In those two years I have moved to the other side of Pennsylvania to attend college, and have gained a lot of valuable knowledge in the process. This week finishes up finals for me, and knowing that I am already half way through my college career has made me think back on how my high school molded me into the person I am today.

I remember entering ninth grade and thinking that I had to have my life together already. I needed to know where I wanted to go to college and what for. I tried to be involved in as much as I could while still maintaining good grades. I was on the cross country and track and field teams, I was in FFA, drama club, concert band, and hand bell choir. Looking back on it now, I am so thankful that my high school had these programs as well as having fantastic coaches and instructors to lead them.

I slowly realized what it was like to have a family away from my own. My sports teams were my family and my coaches were parental figures in my eyes. I looked up to them and they provided me with guidance. In drama club and the music programs, we spent so much time together we had no choice but to become a family.

As great as those experiences were, I think my time in FFA shaped me the most. I started off freshman year being shy and very introverted. I had a passion for agriculture though, and my advisor realized this. He encouraged me to run for an officer position my sophomore year, and I did. I became the treasurer on the junior slate. Over the years, I began to make new friends and break out of my shell. I became more confident in my ability to publicly speak and I went on trips to Farm Show and National Convention. By the time my senior year rolled around, I was president of the chapter and more comfortable than ever being a leader. Without the fantastic FFA program my high school had, I would have never had the opportunities I did to become the person I am today. I would still be introverted and afraid to speak in public. I would not have as much confidence and I would not have gained all the practical knowledge one learns through having several agriculture related classes over the years.

The one thing that stands out the most is without FFA, I most likely wouldn't be at DelVal University. After Farm Show my senior year, our advisor decided to have us stop at DelVal and take a tour. I fell in love with the campus and when I found out they offered food science as a major, I knew it was a perfect fit. I probably would have never discovered DelVal without that stop, and I am very thankful it happened.

Extracurricular activities weren't the only things that molded me into who I am today. The classes and teachers at my high school did the same. They would always push my to do my best and gave my many opportunities to do research projects independently as well as teaching me things beyond the curriculum. They saw the potential I had and tried to tap into that and make me realize I had that potential as well.

For being a small town high school with just over 100 students in my graduating class, it sure left a huge impact on me and my life. I realized that you don't have to go to a huge school to get a quality education in both high school and college. That is why I appreciate that DelVal is a small university. I know that I will have great life-shaping experiences here just as I did in high school.

I am thankful for all the teachers, coaches, advisers and mentors I have had growing up. They shaped me into a person I am proud of and I'm sure they've helped others achieve the same. So thank you high school, for providing me with the stepping stones I needed to achieve success in my future!