Sometimes You Want to Go Where Everybody Knows Your Name

On January 16, I had the privilege of returning to my alma mater, Hampton Park Christian School, for their basketball homecoming celebration.

The Panthers were hosting Veritas Academy for a full slate of games, and the gym had exactly the kind of energy you hope for on a night like that. Students packed the bleachers. Alumni reconnecting. Families are cheering. Faculty smiling from the sidelines. It felt familiar in the best way.

I was invited back to serve as the emcee for the evening, handling senior recognitions, halftime moments, and on-court announcements. Now, high school basketball doesn’t require a ton of play-by-play commentary. But let’s be honest, athletes love hearing their names called with a little extra hype when those starting lineups are introduced. That part never gets old. And yes, I gave them a little something extra.

One of the highlights for me was standing in that same gym with four of my classmates from the Class of 2002. We weren’t a huge school, but 39 of us walked across that graduation stage together. What’s wild is realizing we’re now older than that number. Time is undefeated.

But what really hit me was looking into the crowd and seeing so many familiar faces now sitting in a different role. Classmates who are now parents. Friends cheering for their sons and daughters playing middle school, JV, and varsity ball. Others just soak it all in the same way we once did. That kind of full-circle moment lands differently.

Halftime is always my favorite part of nights like this. It’s where you step off the mic stand and into the middle of the crowd. Musical chairs. Tic-tac-toe relays. Sack races. And this year’s crowd favorite, moms versus sons tug-of-war. There’s something special about turning a competitive gym into shared laughter, even if just for a few minutes.

Not every team walked away with a win on the scoreboard. But the night itself was a win.

Being back on campus. Reconnecting with faculty who invested in me. Remembering who I was before titles, stages, and responsibilities. That’s the real victory.

There’s a line from Cheers that fits perfectly: “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.”

Friday night reminded me why that matters.

Grateful for the invitation. Grateful for the memories. And grateful for the opportunity to give back to a place that helped shape who I am today.