Over the weekend, my old high school theatre troupe put on an absolutely outstanding performance of Chicago. I loved it so much that I had considered going all three days, sadly my schedule did not permit it...neither did my checking account. It's always great to see old faces as well as all the new kids that just joined the troupe, see the excitement on their faces as they see people they haven't seen in a while or how their eyes light up when you tell the cast how great they were in the show. It brings me joy every time I walk through the school doors and either turn right to the auditorium or left into the band room.

Living around the corner from my high school, it makes it easier to pop by every once in a while to visit or help out. Some days I'm welcomed, other days I'm ignored (mainly by my own peers rather than those still in school) and people often ask me why I come back, some days I wonder why myself...but the thing is, I don't care what my old peers think about me. That's immaterial. They can think whatever they want to think and say whatever they want to say, but one thing is for certain...I love the students.

Any time I come back to see a show or to help out the band, the students and my former teachers welcome me with open arms. The students always thank me for coming and are so glad to see me that it brightens my day especially if my day sucked. I have probably spent more time at my high school than I do at my college....and I work there. I can always count on a few of them to say hi to me, ask how my day was, and greet me with a big bear hug as I shower them with praise and compliments. I'm always proud of these students. They work so hard day and night to put on the best performances they can. Both on the field and on the stage. I love asking the seniors where they're going after graduation and then feel incredibly old as I realize that they're going to be graduating despite the fact I've only been out of high school for two years.

There is a sense of home and comfort that I get whenever I walk through the doors and hear the gentle hum of voices and the occasional blasting of a trumpet or rim shot of a snare drum (depending on what room I'm in). It feels like I have never left and honestly? I want to keep it that way. I will always come back to watch and help whenever the students or my former teachers need it, because I know how much they appreciate it. They can't be in a million places at once and as they say "many hands make light work."

While majority of my fellow class have moved on from high school and are now working big fancy jobs and moving out into the world, I'm still on the football field every summer with a drill binder in my hand or sitting in the auditorium with a huge grin on my face. I never got to do a legacy project in high school, but as I come back every year I realize that I have made my mark on these students and at the school. I may have bad days and complain because of some high school drama that somebody didn't get over or the fact that my former classmates may ignore me occasionally, but I will never regret coming back to help my students and to support them in everything they do.

I am beyond proud of my troupe and my band and I will continue to be proud of them. Theatre season is coming to a close, but marching band season is about to begin. I have already taken the days off work and I cannot wait to come back to my old stomping grounds to help these students work hard towards another great season (and watch my "Little" graduate...gosh, I feel old!) I love the joy and contagious smiles these students bring me and no matter what happens in my life, I will always come back to cheer them on. They are my family, and family never gets left behind or forgotten...