It is mid-December and college students everywhere are on semester break. Which means it is the long awaited (or for some dreaded) return for three weeks back to our hometown.
For some of you, the return was welcomed with open arms. You had an amazing time in high school and an even better time in college. You look forward to going on break and look forward to going back to school. Good job.
While my high school did not give me a 4.0, decent food, or much freedom, it did give me some of the best friends and memories that I could ever ask for, so it is about time that I said thank you for that.
To the cafeteria that I refused to buy food from: Thank you for providing me and my friends shelter when it was raining and we ran out of other options for places to eat. You provided laughter, fun, and helped to perfect my ability to discern between what was going to turn into a fight and what were just loud arguments.
To the gym that I pretended to exercise in: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to get in shape even though my personal record of half a push-up from sophomore year has yet to be broken. Thank you for the gym class memories (and scars; kickball is too lit), basketball games and pep rallies.
To my teachers: Thank you for letting me eat in your classroom during lunch when my friends and I did not want to go outside or to the previously mentioned cafeteria. Thank you for not writing me up for my sassy comments and instead sassing me right back. Thank you for inspiring me and teaching me to love and appreciate whatever I am doing, whether it be writing for a newspaper or finding an integral. Thank you for teaching me about more than just a simple school subject like English or Calculus, and talking to me as a person and teaching me to be kind and respectful to others as well as to my elders. And thank you for tolerating me calling you my elders.
To my friends: Thank you for letting me vent and complain about the previously mentioned cafeteria, gym and teachers. Thank you for coming into my life at some point during our high school careers. I love and cherish each memory that I have with you all because you made high school fun and worth it. Thank you for not just being there for me, but being there with me. We went through the battles and triumphs of high school together and I could not ask for better people for that. Thank you for helping me grow as a friend and person and for spotting me for all of the times that I accidentally forgot my wallet. Thank you for still being here for me and loving me even though we're now apart. I love you too.
Thank - you to my high school. You were full of ups and downs and a yes, even few regrets, but you made me who I am today and even though I may drive by you and laugh at the people who still go there, thank you Mount Tabor. You're the real OG and I love you.
