Going to Wootton made me realize many things, but most of all it shaped me into the hard working student that I am today, which I am truly thankful for. With its amazing academics and trophy winning sports, we were all fortunate enough to graduate from there. But for all four years, there are some quirks that make a Wootton graduate... a Wootton graduate.

1. You realized you weren’t as dumb as you thought when you got to college. After feeling like someone was always better than you, you go to a college where everyone around you got in with the same grades, giving off the feeling of not having to compete. You're in college to learn, not to get into college. Isn’t that refreshing?

2. You are surprised there is such a thing as “school spirit.” You mean people actually like dressing up for game days and celebrating their school???

3. You find it weird that you can sit with anyone you want at lunch. No more texting every single person you know to find out if you’ll be eating alone for the next semester or not.

4. You realize you can't make Asian jokes outside of Wootton... Even if you did go to Wonton High... Asian jokes are offensive to outsiders apparently. Who knew?

5. You realize there is an actual point to football games other than socializing and eating Chick-fil-A. Better start to learn football terms my friends.

6. You realize we had an amazing location. We were just a 30 minute drive from DC, surrounded by restaurants, could metro to either DC or College park at any time, and always had the choice of Chipotle or Cava. Oh, how I miss Fallsgrove.

7. You realize math isn't that difficult. MCPS really took the D too hard (in grading I mean, what were you thinking?)

8. You are always ready for a patriotic party. Having the patriot as a mascot made it really easy to dress up for spirit days…but now you look like you love your country just a tad too much.

9. You are always ready to talk politics, whether you like to or not. Living near DC (the most political city in the US), and in one of the most liberal areas around the country, we all had to be ready to defend our beliefs in a moment’s notice. Which is especially helpful as we all turn 18 during the worst voting year yet. Yay us.

10. You realize you had the best principal you ever could’ve asked for. Rest in Peace Dr. Doran, our most beloved principal. Thank's for making us who we are today.