Makaela Thompson returns to New Ulm High School after 9 years for her senior year.

Makaela left in third grade because she moved to a different town. She later moved again for her junior year. She said she didn’t want to go because she’d be leaving all her friends behind.

“We just moved to another place,” she said, adding that she didn’t have a choice in the matter.

After moving to two different places in the past 9 years, she has come back to New Ulm High School. Makeala has always been talking about coming back to New Ulm. “I wanted to come back to be with my friends,” she said.

Coming back to the school, Makeala wasn’t really nervous because she knew most of the people. Makeala said, “It was pretty weird,” when talking about seeing all the familiar faces but all grown up.

Makeala has joined two different after-school activities since being back in New Ulm. She was the team manager for the girls’ volleyball team. She is also in New Ulm FFA, which is also a big part of her life. Makeala said, “I have always been in volleyball for as long as I can remember.”