06/29/2026
This weekend, I went back home.
My high school, after 100 years, is being taken down. So I took the trip back to my hometown to walk the halls one more time and reconnect with people I hadn’t seen in over 38 years.
What I didn’t expect was how emotional it would feel.
Walking into that school brought back more than memories. It brought back a feeling of community, camaraderie, and support. People who had all gone on to live completely different lives came together for one day because we shared something.
We may have been different back then. Different groups, different interests, different paths. Some of us played sports. Some of us sat together at lunch. Some of us just passed each other in the halls. Someone even joked that we were like The Breakfast Club; all different, yet somehow connected.
And for that one day, none of the differences mattered.
Not income.
Not lifestyle.
Not where life had taken us.
Not the years between us.
What mattered was the connection.
A shared place.
A shared history.
A shared feeling of belonging.
That school may no longer stand, but what it gave us will stay with us. The memories, the friendships, the laughter, and the feeling of being part of something bigger than ourselves.
This is why connection matters.
Healthy connection reminds us that we are not meant to move through life alone. It brings us back to the people, places, and moments that shaped us. It gives us support, even when years have passed.
And sometimes, walking through an old hallway reminds you that a part of your heart has always been there.
Though the building may be gone, Arthur Voaden High School will always live in our hearts.
AVSS forever. 💛
Have you ever gone back to a place that reminded you who you were, or who you still are? I’d love to hear about it.
