No matter where I go in life, I will always remember where I came from. Homewood Flossmoor High School was my home for four years and shaped me into the person I am. I lucked out with an amazing education, great clubs to be a part of, and good people. Do you go to H-F? Here are some ways to know if you do.

1. You walked "The Path" to classes in different buildings.

You laugh every time someone complains about getting to class on time. You have eight to 10 minute passing periods, which may seem like a long time, until you realize you have to walk to a whole different building. Isn't it ironic that all the other schools in the area close for a snow day and you are still out there with class walking between buildings? Your teacher makes you stay exactly till the bell and you walk from A building to third floor North. . . run even if you have that extra minute (speed walk unless you want to look like a freshman)!

2. You always have one person in your class that you don't know whatsoever.

H-F is huge. It has two buildings for gosh sake. How are you supposed to know everyone? You literally can't. I don't care how popular you are.

3. You take pride in being in a Fine Arts class or club.

Sports may be very important at H-F, but they also have a phenomenal Fine Arts program. Theater, Viking Choir, Jazz Band, and AP Art are just a couple exclusive things along with VTV and the Radio channel owned by H-F.

4. You hate block days with a passion. 80 minutes of AP Calculus? Sike.

Block days are your least favorite days. Not having every class every single day has its perks in the long run, but it sure stinks when you wake up and spend 80 minutes in one class. You don't have six to seven periods of homework every day, but it sucks. At least you are preparing for college?

5. You have a love/hate relationship with the bio pond.

There are geese, but there also is a car at the bottom of it. It has given people infections, but it is also super pretty to look at. I mean, it adds some scenery to the walk on the path, even if it isn't that cool.

6. Your school has produced a lot of famous people.

Ben Bradley from ABC7 News, Chad Smith who is the drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stephen Hillenburg who is the creator of "SpongeBob SquarePants," and Taiylar Ball,who performed the eloquent poem "Dear Black Girls," came from HF.

7. Your backpack is huge because no one ever uses the lockers.

Students are allowed to just carry their backpacks around all day. We walk in between buildings for classes. There is no way we are just going to hold our books in our hands from class to class. This isn't Parker or James Hart anymore.

8. You hate when your fifth/sixth period teacher doesn't show you VTV.

You just want the announcements and to know what is going on around school. Your fifth period has a little extra time just for VTV and when your teacher doesn't use it, it only means you are learning more. Seriously?

9. You tell people your high school is huge and actually mean it.

2,800 students in two buildings for six periods every day (or seven if you take the dreaded E-period). Your school is huge and people may not believe you if you just say you go to a big high school. The minute you actually tell them you go to H-F, that is when they realize how many students you are around every day.

10. Sports are a pretty big deal. Football season is basically the Olympics, Super Bowl, and March Madness put together.

"We bleed red" is the moto of the season and Friday night lights are the best part of the year. Your whole community comes out to support the Vikings no matter what the weather is. My small college football games didn't even have as good of a student section as HF. You all are awesome!

11. You love the term "Kedzie Crazy."

H-F is located on Kedzie Avenue, coining the term of every student sports fan as a "Kedzie crazy." Being a fan is one thing, but getting the shirt to prove it makes the whole term even better (or painting your chest/stomach).

12. You brag about your Prom. It's downtown and a blast no matter what year it is.

Prom is expensive everywhere. H-F takes the prom ticket prices to a whole other level at around $120 per ticket (price changes around every year). Food is included along with the location, but it sure is crazy expensive. H-F prom is awesome though and you don't realize how cool it is until you tell other people you had yours in downtown Chicago.

13. Parking is a joke along with the traffic after school.

I paid more for my parking permit at H-F than I did in college. Parking and getting to class on time is a real struggle. So many students and so little parking spaces. The even worse part is getting out of the parking lot at the end of the day. Bi***es be crazy!

14. You get confused any time you see Dr. Pitcock and he forgets to tell you to "Make it a great day to be a Viking..."

and be safe everybody. H-F is a fine institution and no matter the struggle you have in your four years, those years are important. Do not take your four years at H-F for granted (no matter what incidents may occur).