Ava Sapp

The picture you see above is me, barely 10 years old on October 1st, 2014. I think I was the youngest person at the whole concert, and my dad was probably the only middle-aged man there.

For Christmas the year before, my parents gave me what is still arguably the best present I've ever gotten, floor seats to see One Direction. Now waiting 10 months to see your favorite band perform is not easy for an impatient 9-year-old, but I managed.

I've been obsessed with One Direction since their debut on X-Factor when I was 6. Every birthday and Christmas from 6 to 11, I got something One Direction themed. From a pillow with Liam Payne's face, to purses, watches, bracelets, blankets, and even life-sized stickers of them on my wall, I had everything One Direction related. Even today, my closest friends and family still surprise me with little stuff they find, because they know that I'd love it.

Now I wouldn't say the day they broke up was the worst day of my life, because trust me I have had much worse happen to me, but it's definitely in the top 10 worst days. When Zayn left, I cried for days, and when they broke up, I cried for weeks.

As I've grown up, loving One Direction wasn't as cool anymore, but I learned not to care about what others think about my preferences. I may not have life-sized stickers anymore, but my dorm room does have every album cover in order from when they were together, and album each member has made since. I still have the perfume they released 10 years ago displayed on my bathroom counter back home. I still have Spotify playlists full of One Direction, but it's also full of Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik.

Even if they aren't still together, 5 teenage boys once played in a band that shaped my life today, and for that I owe them everything.