ABC7 Chicago's Karen Jordan returns to Evanston Township High School for start of year

EVANSTON, Ill. (WLS) -- Students aren't the only ones returning to school.

This week, some of your favorite ABC7 Chicago personalities are feeling like kids again, retracing their steps and taking trips down memory lane.

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First up was ABC7'S Karen Jordan.

She returned to her old stomping ground, Evanston Township High School, to see what has changed and what remains the same.

Jordan said it felt like a homecoming, to a place that had a big impact on her life, and helped shape who she is today.

The school band helped welcome her back to the hallowed halls of ETHS, led by mascot Willie Wildkit.

ETHS has always been known for its school spirit, powerhouse athletics and strong academics.

With 3,000 students, it's the largest high school under one roof in the country, led by Superintendent Marcus Campbell.

"We work really hard to make sure our classrooms are safe learning environments for all of our students," Campbell said.

The journalism students were already hard at work planning their next issue of the school newspaper, The Evanstonian.

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When Jordan was in school, she wrote for the paper, which has gone through some upgrades since then: It's now in color.

Jordan said it was an honor to spend time with the next generation of reporters.

She also ran into several familiar faces. Many of her classmates are now on-staff.

One of them is Nicole Lane, a dear friend.

"I remember us sitting in Ms. Rubin's Spanish class," Lane said.

Now, Lane has her own classroom, where she's been teaching Spanish for nearly 30 years.

"This, for me, has been one of my own personal greatest blessings to have this job," Lane said.

Jordan and Lane reminisced about what it was like to sit in the school's seats.

"I feel like we were extremely sheltered. We didn't know anything. We didn't have access to anything. These kids are way more mature," Lane said.

But what stays the same is the pride in the school and the connection the ETHS community has with each other.