There have been so many people over the last 13 years of school that have meant very much to me.

I have been lucky enough to have wonderful teachers, best friends and good times in the three schools I have attended.

I started off in East Three Notch Elementary. I started the year off with Mrs. Chambers but there was a new teacher at the school that year, so I got moved to her class. At first I didn't want to leave Mrs. Chambers class, but Miss Dunn, now Mrs. Cravey, soon became one of my favorites.

All of my teachers were great. When I was in elementary school, I always got in trouble for talking too much and I never could take the nap time they gave us. I would just flop around like a fish on land. Now, I just wish they would give us a nap time because I would gladly take the opportunity.

I had fun in Mrs. Osborne's class, Miss Bond's class, Miss Campbell's class and Mrs. Hutcherson's class, even though I hated having to stand in line and not talk.

When I moved to Andalusia Middle School, everything changed. I had to get used to seven period days. I also had to worry with having a locker and not forgetting the combination. I had some wonderful teachers at the middle school. Some that stick out are Mrs. Mims, Mrs. Lee, Mrs. Glisson which is one of the teachers that has followed me all the way to the high school and Mr. Lindsey who nobody can forget because of his "Positive Song".

As the time for me to go to Andalusia High School neared, I got more and more nervous. I didn't know how all of the big kids would treat us little ninth graders. As I got there, I realized most of them were all right.

Again I had to adapt to the changing pace of moving to yet another school. We only have four classes a day, but all of them are an hour and a half long. At least we didn't have to wait in line to go to the cafeteria.

I remember my first day of high school, I walked up the stairs of the main building at the high school and saw a boy who had a beard and he was about twice my size. I thought "Oh my goodness, these are really the big kids."

In high school, the teachers were more lenient, but they also expected more from us.

Some of the teachers have made these last few years worth having. Mrs. Glisson, 1st Sgt. Clifton, Maj. Cole, Coach Robertson, Mrs. Avery, Mrs. Sasser, Mrs. Wilkes and of course, the one and only Mr. Wingard. They have always seemed to care about us and our well-being. I know I have left many of the great teachers that I have had out of this, but it was surely not on purpose or for a lack of appreciation. I appreciate all of the teachers that have helped to give me the education I have and I wish all of them the best.

As I have moved up the ladder of school, I have learned a great deal about not only the academic subjects but about life and human nature. It has not always been fun, but it hasn't always been horrible either.

Hopefully, we can take what we learn in school and at least a few of the friends we made and use both for a lifetime.

Graduation has been a long time coming for me, but now that it's here, I don't know if I feel happy to be finally getting out of that place, or sad to be leaving what I have known for the majority of my life.

- Santanna Casey is a senior at

Andalusia High School

and a columnist for the Star-News.