In the city of Virginia Beach , the public school system is made up of 54 elementary schools, 13 middle schools, and 11 high schools. Two Junes ago, I received my high school diploma from one of the 11 high schools, First Colonial. I am a product of the best public school system in the country. I am a cougar, a blue fish, and one-fourth a dolphin, three-fourths a patriot. I am here to tell you the Virginia Beach City Public School System doesn't just produce students, they produce leaders. In my 13 years attending a VBCPS school, I didn't just pick up the skills to write, add, and read; I learned how to problem solve in groups, how to interact with other students through group dynamics, and how to work hard. I am motivated to write about eight of the ways this school system has impacted my life; eight of the opportunities that they provided me over the years I was a VBCPS student.

1. The Academies

We have all heard of the International Baccalauture program, but have you ever heard of The Legal Studies Academy, Mathematics & Science Advanced Academy, Global Studies & World Language Academy, Governor's STEM & Technology Academy, Health Sciences Academy, Visual & Performing Arts Academy, & Governor's School for the Arts? VBCPS supplies their students with ample amount of opportunities to find their niche. You can apply to be part of any of these academies and be served by the faculty the knowledge you want to know, you can problem solve what you want to potentially one day study in college – shoutout to Mrs. Styron, Mr. Frenck, Mr. Hodges, and Mrs. Pettay; each of you are part of the reason I am even writing this today. I wouldn't be a writer if I hadn't learned my freshman year of high school that I was bad at math and science while attending the Math & Science Academy for a year.

2. Student Cooperative Association, also known as SCA

SCA is the student government program in the city of Virginia Beach schools. Each school elementary all the way through high school give ample opportunity for students to get involved with student government. I remember as a fourth and fifth grader running for student government positions and losing. Fast forward to high school and I have the chance to serve my high school as the vice president of our SCA for two years. This school system doesn't give up on their students. They work hard to teach us leadership skills and to continue to learn and grow through the student government organizations.

3. Virginia Beach Leadership Workshop

Tommy and Suzy, the most iconic, fictional relationship in all of Virginia Beach Leadership Workshop history. What does a fictional relationship have to leadership you may be asking yourself? Well, it's quite simple really, these two were on staff on VBLW. VBLW is what sets the city of Virginia Beach apart from all other public schools. It's a program put on at each level of public education. For high school students, it's five full days of the summer, where you eat, sleep and breathe leadership for an entire week. For middle school students, it's called "Leadership Summit," where the middle schoolers gather two days back to back and are introduced to leadership skills. For elementary schoolers, it's one Saturday. This program is one of the many that changed my way of what leadership is; instilling the idea that leadership is an act of service.

4. The "Ahead of the Curve" mentality

Every school system has some sort of catchphrase to go with it. VBCPS's is "ahead of the curve," but it is not in reference to being filled with overachievers. It's about the students. It's about helping the students fulfill their potential in an entirety. While I was in high school I had more teachers ask me how my day was prior to asking where my homework was. Every teacher wants to see their students excel at whatever they care about, so they take an interest in the student and work to get their students ahead.

5. Teachers who truly care about their students

The most practical example of teachers who truly care about their students is First Colonial's Adam Roth, or as students refer to him, Roth. He is a graphic design teacher. He helps produce the morning news, PNN, with students. Roth also helped with something called "breakfast club" or weights for pre-season wrestlers. He also is the staff member who works along students to create First Colonial's yearbook. And the thing is if you walk into any Virginia Beach City Public School, you will find teachers just like Roth.

6. City Wide SCA

It's the third Wednesday of the month. And you're in search of leaders? Head over to Plaza Middle School to see the collection of all the high school leaders in the city. I have attended city-wides where almost 600 student leaders filled up the Plaza Middle school auditorium. The people you meet through city-wide; the ideas exchanged at city-wide; and the fun you have while at city-wide changes your way you view being a student in high school. City-Wide SCA is one of the life-changing, leadership development tools VBCPS uses to helps students to fulfill their potential as a student leader.

7. The sports teams

When it comes to thriving sports teams, Virginia Beach schools has a wide range of them. As a student in two separate high schools that had state contending, even state champion teams, throughout my four years. My freshman year of high school I ran for Ocean Lakes High School. In that cross country season, I was part of the top ten ladies who brought home the runner-up title for 6A cross country. Nestor, my coach at the time, cared about his athletes; wanting us to succeed as runners, as students, and as leaders. This was the case for every team in the city. The coaches all care deeply to see their athletes succeed across the board.

8. The friendships

Being a student at one high school in Virginia Beach doesn't mean you don't know anyone else that attends one of the other high schools. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that it is nearly impossible to attend a high school in Virginia Beach and then you do not have a friend at a different high school. I am sure that this is probably the case in other places too, but in Virginia Beach, it's different. We have eleven different high schools but it's like we are just one big high school. We are all friends. We are all want to help each other succeed and we all treat each other like one big family.

In recent light of whom may be overseeing the department of education, being someone who only has experienced the benefits of private schooling in the United States, I want to ensure this country that our public school systems are the heart of our education system. I feel underserving when I think about how lucky I was to attend such an awesome public school system in Virginia Beach. I want to encourage people to take heart that our public schools are what changes people's lives. It's the teachers that go the extra step to explain what the heck is going on in pre-calc. It's the faculty that check in with the students as they are passing each other in the hallways. It's the extra programs that are there to instill students with skills beyond the classroom. I am proud of being a product of our public school system. I am grateful for all that I learned. I am grateful for all the experience I obtained. I am grateful for each teacher that I have ever come across.