In my life, I spent my preschool, kindergarten, elementary school and middle school days at a Catholic school in Athens, Georgia. When the time came for high school, my family was presented with two options: to continue onto the Catholic high school (again, in Athens), or to branch out and find somewhere else for me to continue my education. When comparing GPA averages, test scores, extracurriculars, AP class offerings, sports and overall community the choice was clear: George Walton Academy.

Although I was reluctant to begin my higher education at a school that was completely new to me, I was immediately welcomed with open arms. I was encouraged the first day to sign up for sports such as cheerleading (which ultimately wasn't for me) and clubs such as the debate club and gavel club, which I ended up pursuing for the rest of my high school career. I soon ended up joining not only debate and gavel club, but also the science bowl team, Spanish club, Junior Classical League or "Latin club," 4-H and the technology team -- cleverly dubbed the "Tech-Dawgs." These clubs alone largely contributed to my college applications, making universities see that GWA had instilled a passion to go above and beyond the average high school education by wanting to participate in more than was expected of each student.

Aside from the extracurriculars, there are no words for the classes that were offered at GWA besides "extensive" and "intellectual." George Walton Academy really put the focus on making sure that the courses offered were designed to stimulate intellectual, social, and emotional development. This way, the students that attend GWA become not only productive members of society, but members that excel and go on to offer their communities, their state and even their nation so much more than average. Aside from the typical math, science, English and history courses I was encouraged to take other classes such as foreign language, pop culture, computer technology and psychology. George Walton focuses on making sure that each student that passes through their doors are provided with a well-rounded education that will serve them for the rest of their lives.

Lastly, George Walton Academy provided me with the best sense of community that I could have asked for from a high school. Many of my classmates had been attending GWA since preschool and were closer than blood relatives. My class had about 70 students, so we were all very close considering our small class size, and no gossip or drama went unknown by not only my grade, but the whole school. We even had foreign exchange students who taught us about their lives and their cultures in their countries and added even more diversity to GWA.

To this day, my George Walton family keeps a close eye on one another, as many of us ended up going to the same universities throughout Georgia. Friends made at GWA are friends for life it seems, and that is something that I had not felt or experienced anywhere else. I met one of my best friends in the debate club at GWA my freshman year who remained my friend throughout high school, and has now been my college roommate for two years!

As I approach my second year of college, I've seen my classmates in my university and I realize just how much George Walton taught me that was not taught at other schools. The education I was provided went above and beyond what is given at other schools, and for that I cannot thank GWA enough. From all of the wonderful teachers who were not only educators, but also a family and lifeline, to the friends I have made and will keep for years to come, to the education that got me into the college of my dreams and adequately prepared me to pursue the career I have always wanted with a fervor, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will forever consider myself a GWA Bulldawg and will always bleed red and black. As we sang on graduation day, "We will always love and honor George Walton Academy!"