This is the place I owe my sincerest gratitude to.

You have pushed my limits, allowed me to explore what the world is like outside of my comfort zone, tested my morals and made me fall in love with the girl I see in the mirror.

This is the place that has given me the best friends in the world.

You have introduced me to people with the same interests, careers goals, life plans, and passions that set my heart on fire.

This is the place where I got to reinvent myself.

You had no idea what my past held, all my trials and tribulations. You have no idea what mistakes I’ve made or who I was in high school. You gave me a chance at a blank slate, a fresh start. You’ve given everyone at our school a fresh start- if they didn’t like who they were in high school you gave them the opportunity to change themselves with open arms.

This is the place that’s seen me at my low points.

This is the place where I’ve met my darkest days. This is the place where I came to the realization that he didn’t want me anymore. This is the place where I learned my worth. This is the place where I spent some days unmotivated and unamused by school. This is the place that showed me that being apart of something doesn’t make me special but rather something is special because I am apart of it.

This is a place that I can wholeheartedly call home.

I’ve always had panic attacks when hit with the question “where are you from?” I was born one in one state, grew up in another, and finished high school in a completely different country. I often refer to these places as home, but you have shown me a new perspective on what a home is. You have shown me that a home is more than just walls and a ceiling: it’s a place that sees you at your most vulnerable moments, but also your proudest. It’s the place where you spend time with the people you love most in the world. It’s a place where memories that will last a lifetime are made. It’s a place that tests you in every way possible and cheers the loudest when you soar, and you UD are most definitely the place that I call home.