Dear Tinora High School Graduates of 2013,

It has officially been over three full years since we have went our separate ways. Some of us have grown apart and some of us closer together. We have classmates in the service, raising children, getting married, working full times jobs, and taking classes at college. There are many differences between each one of us. There is one major thing in common though, we ended our first journey of life in the same place. Tinora High School. We each walked across the stage and received our diplomas. We shared graduation. Through the laughs, tears, and hugs, we had the chance to say we made it. There are many memories that we took with us from the place we spent thousands of hours at.

I first want to say thank you to the graduating class of 2013. We were a unique group of individuals that found ways to make the most of our high school experience. We supported one another through some of the toughest of times. People out there do not understand how someone could enjoy going to a small school where you know everyone. But we could not imagine life any differently. We became a family. Encouraging each other along the way whether it was in the classroom, on the field, or on the stage. Our teachers helped us grow and put up with our shenanigans. Looking back in our yearbook, we were asked to quote our favorite memory from high school. It made me realize how much more than just a school it was to us. We never had the best of anything, but we made the most of everything. Squeaky lockers, no air conditioning, and old classrooms did not matter to us; the thing I read over and over again that did was the people.

To jog some of your memories, there was mention of bathroom parties, band camp, the art trip, school plays, sporting events, proms, homecomings, climbing on the building to retrieve a frisbee, and that is just a few. Throughout the four years at Tinora High School, I would say that we were a class that grew together. I'm not saying that everything was perfect as we experienced hallway fights and verbal disagreements. I mean, you guys even managed to get me a detention. But it was overcoming our difficulties and differences that made us the amazing class we were. It does not matter who it is, but I love running into any of my fellow alumni. I love seeing where life has taken you. For a school out in a cornfield, it certainly has a special place in my heart and I hope all of yours too. We chose our class song to be "Tattoos On This Town" and let me remind you those lyrics,

"It sure left its mark on us, we sure left our mark on it
We let the world know we were here with everything we did
We laid a lot of memories down, like tattoos on this town ."

That is exactly what we did. We left our mark on Tinora High School and one another. As that 5 year class reunion approaches us, which will be in a blink of an eye, I hope to see you all there.

Thank you THS Class of 2013.