As I sat down to brainstorm ideas for my first article, it became immediately apparent that I was lost. I wanted to write something inspirational, amazing, and just way out of reach for a new writer. There were a few things I knew though. I want to reach out to my Alma Mater, the school that made shaped me into the person I am today. The school that I thought I hated but I now miss and love, Washington High School.

I started at Washington High School as a recent Home School-ee, which was the first thing that set me apart. I also am the oldest of six siblings, so I was not a normal freshman by any means. My mom was reluctant to enroll me in my district school because it did not seem like a good fit. At the time WHS was not the ideal High School and it had a bad stigma attached to it because of its predominantly African American student body and low test scores. I was nervous but excited to be apart of something bigger than my family, so I begged my mom to let me enroll there.

I was apart of the school's Medical Magnet Program which is truly the best thing that happened to me. I was having trouble finding my place throughout my freshman year. I was coming from a very religious background into an environment where I had to be a little bit more flexible and accepting of others. I was glad that I had one amazing teacher in my medical magnet class, Melissa Glaser. She helped me transition into my Sophomore year by challenging me and pushing me to think about things that I had never considered before. I continued to have different teachers affiliated with that program who were great, Destiny Campbell, although she was never my teacher she was always a favorite. They did not sugar coat anything but they inspired and fought for there students. For those four years I can truly say that I had some of the best educators that South Bend had to offer.

During my junior and senior year I met my best friends. They supported me through family issues and we worked together to meet our educational goals. We worked hard to overcome our High School's negative stereotype by striving for the best test scores, holding community events, and setting a good example. I had one particular teacher my senior year who I always had arguments with but she genuinely loved and cared for every senior she had. The director, Karla Black, worked hard to bring our little program great opportunities, that I am eternally grateful for. I don't know what could be better than having nurses as teachers. Naturally nurses care and are attentive to their patients. Then put a nurse in an educators position and you couldn't have a better combination and this article supports that idea.

Like everyone else, I was ready to leave Washington by my senior year. As June 6th creeped up on the Class of 2016, there was excitement and a constant anticipation for graduation. A few moths later, I'm pretty sure I can speak for everyone in the Magnet class, we miss our magnet teachers, clinical days, our ugly green scrubs, talking in medical lingo and being apart of a family.

So, to wrap this up. I want to thank Washington for being the best experience. I achieved my academic goals, made lifetime friends, and was taught by dedicated teachers. I will never be ashamed to call George Washington High School my Alma Mater.