It's true that you don't know what you have until it's gone. You're a part of something for 18 years and suddenly it all changes; we all go our separate ways and it all becomes distant memories. But no matter how much time passes, we could never forget the community that raised us. Without it, we wouldn't be us.

People came and went, the seasons changed and we all grew. What we didn't realize then was that one day we were going to leave and no matter how many times we said "I can't wait to leave here," we truly would miss it. We would miss our friend groups, going to watch our friends play the sports they loved, and the teachers that taught us for four years. What we really didn't realize was that fact that we would miss our community. We would miss everything we've known and although we are making new and exciting memories, it's not as easy to let go of our hometown as we may have expected.

To the community that raised me:

Thank you for being my home for the last 18 years and for letting me always return when I want. I'll never forget the countless nights spent under the Friday night lights cheering on everyone's favorite boys of fall. Thank you for the hundreds of nights spent in the gym screaming at the top of our lungs until the final buzzer would blow. To the classrooms we spent hours in every day for 12 years, surprisingly, I miss you too. And to my teachers, I could never say thank you enough. Thank you for putting hours of work in to kids who could never realize the importance of your work. To my coaches, you'll never realize the impact you've made. Thank you for always believing in me and always putting in so much work.

To my community, thank you for making me myself. You will always be home.