Most people look back at their awkward stages and cringe. While I do cringe at some moments, I look back and smile at others.

When I was in eighth grade I was sitting with some girls and they started mentioning how much they loved how a guy named Harry Styles. In their eyes, he was the hottest man they had ever seen. At first, I thought he was a guy at my school. I casually asked them who this Harry Styles was and they gasped.

"You don't know who Harry Styles is?"

"Nope."

"Go listen to the band One Direction on YouTube and you will see why we love him and the rest of the band."

So I did, and boy did my fourteen year old self freak out.

I remember the date I "started loving the loves of my life." I remember 6.15.12 was all over my social media. I remember "What Makes You Beautiful" coming on everywhere I went. Each time I heard it, I would start screaming and dancing in excitement.

But, I do not regret it. Even though the obsession continued until I was a junior in high school.

I do not regret writing all over my binders my freshman and sophomore year on how I was the future Mrs. Niall Horan. I often wonder how I would have gotten through those challenging years of my life if it wasn't for One Direction. I had every single binder, jewelry, technology supplies, shirts that they were on. I cried when I watched videos of them and sobbed when I finally got tickets to see them in concert. I blasted their music everywhere I went. I told everybody I was going to marry Niall one day and be part of the band.

Okay, the marriage thing did not happen.

If I was so crazy and into a band that I know I would never meet, why don't I regret it?

One Direction brought me life. They gave me happiness when I wasn't feeling happy. They made me feel emotions for music that I never felt before. Their kindness inspired so many people to do good for this world. To this day, I still blast their music when it comes on. One Direction gave me the best gift a band could, they influenced me to be a better person.

Thank you One Direction for being a band. Thank you for sharing your gifts with so many fans. We all still think about you and you still are absolutely amazing. Your music will continue to inspire others for years to come.

I proudly still have all my One Direction stuff in my high school time capsule.

"One Band. One Dream. One Direction."