As an NFA graduate, I have many great memories of my high school years. Although there were ups and downs, I will never forget my time at NFA. Looking back, these are my top 35 memories from Norwich Free Academy.

1. The walk from Bradlaw to the library was the worst experience ever.

2. You always looked out for those little doors in Cranston, and wondered if the tunnels were real.

3. The first day of freshman year, everyone was divided by towns.

4. In between classes, you all stood in little circles next to Tirrell talking with friends.

5. Trying to get a parking spot next to the green was nearly impossible.

6. A half-hour lunch was never long enough.

Because you spent 20 minutes waiting in line for mediocre pizza.

7. Basketball and football games were HYPE.

8. The walkway behind the gym was always a disaster between classes.

9. Shattuck had the grossest bathrooms.

10. If it was a half day, everyone was going to McDonald’s or the Chinese buffet.

11. You hated every other school that got to stay inside all day when it was raining or snowing.

12. Friends that didn’t go to NFA said it looked like Hogwarts or a college campus.

13. Taco salad was the go-to lunch.

14. S cards were in high demand.

15. The library was the go-to place during study hall lunches.

16. NFA Reads was the struggle.

17. The librarians were super mean.

18. You had to cover up the fact you were dying after walking up the Tirrell stairs.

19. If your teacher didn’t let you out early enough, you were stuck waiting on the stairs,

Which took up four minutes of the five that you had to get to your next class on time.

20. You always got hit with an umbrella at least once on days it rained.

21. Freaking out when you heard the warning bell freshmen year.

But by senior year, you began thinking of it as merely a suggestion.

22. You were forced to watch couples make out all over campus between classes.

23. First or last off was the best thing to ever happen to you.

24. People were so amazed you went to a school with its own museum.

25. You didn't even realize Slater was a big deal until you got to college.

26. You were prepared for college, because you were already used to going from building to building for class.

27. The stairs up to senior lot were way too much at the end of the day.

28. You always thought your freshmen unit was better than any other.

29. The dance team and drummers made the pep rallies.

30. Half of your wardrobe is NFA apparel.

31. You always wanted to explore the Slater tower.

32. Everyone gasped when you told them the amount of people in your graduating class.

33. The cherry blossom trees in the spring.

34. Always wanting to go for a joy ride in the security guards' golf carts.

35. You couldn’t have imagined spending your four years anywhere else.