“It’s the oldest story in the world. One day you’re 17 and playing for some day and then quietly and without you ever really noticing, some day is today. And then some day is yesterday and this is your life.

We spend so much time wanting, pursuing, wishing. But ambitions are good. Chasing things with integrity is good. Dreaming.

If you had a friend you knew you’d never see again, what would you say? If you could do one last thing for someone you love, what would it be? Say it. Do it. Don’t wait. Nothing lasts forever.

Make a wish and place it in your heart. Anything you want. Everything you want. Do you have it? Good. Now believe it can come true.

You never know where the next miracle is going to come from. Your next memory. Next smile. Next wish come true.

But if you believe that it’s right around the corner and you open your heart and mind to the possibility of it, the certainty of it, you just might get the thing you wished for. The world is full of magic. You just have to believe in it.

So make your wish. Do you have it? Good. Now believe in it – with all your heart.”

I was a sophomore in high school when I was introduced to a new TV series (that would soon fill my Dawson’s Creek void) called One Tree Hill. From the moment creator Mark Schwahn introduced fans to Brooke, Peyton, Haley, Lucas and Nathan I was hooked. But it quickly became more than a TV show to me – it was an escape route. It provided a place where we as fans got to witness characters’ dreams come true…no matter the depth.

Yes, the show is a drama. Yes, some of the plot lines are far fetched. But it also is based on inspiration. Mark Schwahn is a fan of music and literature and he used that as the backbone for this entire series. Right out of the gate with Episode 1, Lucas quotes William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. From there you hear references to E.E. Cummings, John Steinbeck and Nathanial Hawthorne. The inspirations for the characters come from these famous stories, along with a mixture of creativeness from the musical world. Each episode is a song title and each song reflects the emotions every step of the way.

The main characters were my age when the series started so a connection was immediately made (for those of you who think I’m crazy, I bet you felt the same way about 90210). The show became a muse, a guiding force and an outlet to dream. I watched these characters go through trials and tribulations that related to my real life because at the same time I was in the process of figuring out what I wanted to accomplish as well.

Now looking back on all nine seasons, I see how much these characters and myself have grown and how our dreams and relationships changed along the way. No matter the characters’ ages they always allowed themselves to continue to dream. As they got older their wishes and desires changed…but they were still present. Right out of high school, my dream was college. During college my dream was entertainment critic, magazine editor, record label producer, university professor, public relations professional and so on and so on and so on. After college my dreams turned to a full-time career, finding myself, maybe meeting a special someone to share it all with, traveling, being able to express my gratitude to my family and friends, launching myself into every opportunity that came my way…and those ambitions still continue to change. I still figure out new dreams every day and one of the reasons I fell in love with One Tree Hill is because without even knowing it, it gave me reason to believe it’s all worth it.

So make your wish. Do you have it? Good. Now believe in it – with all your heart.

Team Peyton: Hilarie Burton & I

Sarah, Sophia Bush (Brooke), Jayme and I

James Lafferty (Nathan) & I

Jayme, Tyler Hilton (Chris Keller), Sarah and Kasey

Show creator, Mark Schwahn, & Sarah

Me, Sarah, Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley), Jayme and Kasey

Team Brooke: Sarah, Sophia Bush and Jayme