San Saba High School graduate, Aaron Behrens, now lead vocalist and guitarist of Ghostland Observatory, returned to speak to San Saba High School students on January 30, 2012. Standing on the same stage that his first performance was held, Behrens captivated the attention of all 200 students. Immediately, Behrens was able to relate with students on the difficulties in everyday life. Behrens stressed the words, “You just have to keep ‘going and growing.’” This phrase truly reflects the fast paced life of teenagers today. Former Mr. San Saba High School, four year class favorite and active member of many other high school groups, Behrens spoke about finding “individual happiness.” Aaron certainly found his path to happiness. Despite the fact he didn’t fit the typical mold of a small town kid, he still spoke of the value of growing up here and how it is part of what makes him who he is today. Behrens compared his individual happiness to the first time he picked up a guitar. A feeling overcame him, he described as “love.” Having a love or passion for anything in life is a necessity for all individuals. He encouraged all, while traveling on your path in life, to strive for that passion-that love. Behrens talked about his path in high school, performing in the same cafeteria he was speaking in, and that “big gig” held during a pep rally. All these events led him down his road to becoming a well-known artist. His path took him beyond the San Saba County lines to Austin where he began to work toward achieving his goals with music. Behrens assured the students, that nothing is achieved without “hard work and never assume things will just happen.” He stressed to students to use personal incentives to do whatever it takes to get you to that “individual happiness.” “It takes work,” Behrens said as he assured the audience that things will eventually happen if you follow your own path and passion. Behrens’ path with music is still “going and growing.” Behrens has gone from 5 dollar shows to being featured on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. He has also toured in countries all over the world. Despite his star status, when Elizabeth Chambers, a teacher at the high school, called him about speaking with the high school students, he didn’t hesitate. She said, “Aaron and I had a great conversation on the phone about what to talk about and I just knew he had a good message for the kids. I feel like he inspired the kids to look past the day to day and shoot for their very own destiny. And he is certainly proof of what a small town kid can do in this world.”