Here are some things you might have experienced if you were a youth group kid.

You have a large collection of church t-shirts: graphic tees, baseball tees, every-shade-of-comfort-color-tees.

Church trips were the highlight of every season.

Inside jokes. All day, every day.

You’ve played “Silent Football,” “Signs,” and “Ninja.”

You’ve experienced “post retreat depression.”

You own at least one pair of Chacos.

You own a Nalgene.

You’ve heard “No Purple” once or twice.

You know the excruciating pain of long bus rides. The smell of beef jerky and sweat will forever be engraved in your memory.

Youth choir? Check.

Heated sand volleyball games? Check.

You bought an Eno because everyone else had one.

You never had a free Sunday or Wednesday night.

Bible studies at Panera were frequent.

You've participated in a shaving cream fight.

Certain songs take you back to that one retreat.

L

Leaving the youth group was more upsetting than graduating from your high school.

Leaving behind your closest friends and second family was one of the worst parts of growing up. However, the memories made and friendships formed were some of the biggest blessings of your high school years. Your "Ninja" days may be over, but your church family is always there (even when you're scattered across the Southeast) *cue "One Call Away"*