NXS. REM. The Cure. The Cranberries.

These make the soundtracks of my high school years.

I just went to accept an award in Pittsburgh, PA, my hometown, where I was given the Distinguished Alumni Award in the Business category from my high school alumni association. What an honor.

North Allegheny was the place where I rocked really big hair, played field hockey, and felt secure enough to spread my wings & fly. I had to think long and hard about what to include in the speech; I was supposed to talk about how my schooling K-12 made an impact on me.

I tend to look backward instead of forward, but every time I look back, I realize some really important things.

Listen to what I said here: North Allegheny Distinguished Alumni Award 2024: Business Category, Julie Lancaster

What impact did your K-12 make on who you are now?