This year I went back to my old high school to visit my teachers as I have for the past three years. Once you get to college, there is a stigma around going back to high school after your freshmen year. So many people think of high school as this horrible time in their lives that they never want to go back to. But, I didn't hate high school or my teachers. In fact, my teachers are the reason I keep coming back.

I have always been really good at building strong connections with my teachers. I don't know why or how the relationships are formed, but they are. My teachers have always been there to help me through tough times. They have been some of my biggest cheerleaders and motivators.

There was Ms. Walker, from freshmen year. She became one of my favorite teachers so easily. And Mr. Marchildon from sophomore year. He wasn't afraid to call you out, but he always made you feel as though you matter. And finally, Ms. Mack from senior year.

Ms. Mack is truly one of the most amazing women I have ever met. She helped me through the struggles and challenges of senior year. She looked over my essays when I applied to colleges, made every bad day better, and helped me to realize that I really could do anything I set my mind too. She is steadily changing the environment at my high school and making it a place that anyone would be proud to go to. Every time I see her she is so ready to hear about all I've done and accomplished.

Mr. Marchildon gave me advice about my freshmen year and predicted I'd be the girl at college who goes to all the protests and becomes a hippie. And he wasn't that far off. He was so excited when I got into State, although he says he wasn't surprised I got in.

Ms. Walker wrote one of my recommendation letters to NC State, no questions asked, even though she had stopped teaching the year before.

They followed my journey through high school, guiding me and supporting me, and helped me become the person I am now.

So make fun of me all you want for continuing to go back and relive my "glory" days, but know that it's not the high school I'm going back to see. It's the people who have changed my life for the better.