We all have someone who we can say changed our life or made us grow or is important to us; typically this person is a family member, coach, friend, and in some cases like mine, it is a teacher.

My Theatre director and Speech teacher, Ms. Smith, is hands-down that person for me.

She truly did change my life. I know how overwhelming I was freshman year when she met me and, though I didn't learn until much later, we both thought we were not going to be able to work with each other. I was sold on not coming back to the theater and giving up Stage Management, which I love more than anything, but I am so glad something in me told me not to.

Sophomore year was not much better, to be honest. I didn't understand then but she was being so harsh on me for my own good. She saw the potential I had she just had to get me to see it. She made me grow up and it is something I can never thank her enough for.

What makes her that person is my life is one of the very many lessons she taught me, a lesson about change.

"When the lights go out and the stage is empty it leaves a blank space to start something new."

That is what she said to us at our senior circle after my last fall play. It was one of the most emotional nights of my life. I realized that everything that my life was about was coming to an end and I wasn't ready for it. It was also one of the most important nights because Ms. Smith and I had a moment of our own before we both left and she is still someone I turn to for advice.

I owe so much to her. We all grow up in high school, at least we all should grow up in high school, but if I had not worked with her I am not sure I would be where I am today.

I hate change, I still do and I always will but I also welcome it. I know how good it can be, it can be bad to don't get me wrong, but most times it is good and it is worth it. When I think about all of the things I wouldn't have tried if I had not learned this from her I realize I would have missed a lot of amazing things in life.

I would love to say she helped me find myself but she didn't; she helped me create myself because that is what life is about.