"New Joisey," "Dirty Jerz," "The Armpit of America." Despite all the negative (and highly inaccurate) nicknames out-of-staters have for New Jersey, anyone who lives or has ever lived in the state knows how truly great it is. As someone who was born and raised in New Jersey and now attends college in another state, I have dealt with my fair share of dirty looks and snide comments when I state my origin. So here's to all my fellow Jerseyans out there who are sick of trying to prove the inaccuracy of many stereotypes associated with New Jersey. Because for such a terrible state, a whole lot of people live there—and you don't want to mess with us.

1. "New Jersey is so ugly."

OK, let's get this straight once and for all: New Jersey is called the "Garden State" for a reason. Anyone who says that New Jersey is ugly has clearly never been outside the vicinity of Newark airport or off the highway. Just because you flew into NJ or traveled through it on the Turnpike to get to Philly or New York does not mean you can judge the whole state. New Jersey is known for its great produce (think tomatoes, corn, apples, etc.), and where does produce come from? Farms. Not only is New Jersey filled with a vast amount of farmland, but don't forget about the rest of its beautiful scenery, including the countless hiking trails and gorgeous beaches. Which brings me to my next point.

2. "Are people there like the cast of Jersey Shore?"

First of all, most of the cast of "Jersey Shore"isn't even from New Jersey; they're from New York. Secondly, I've never even met anyone in New Jersey remotely like those people. That show is probably the worst thing to happen to NJ because it is a highly inaccurate representation of one of our state's best assets: The Shore. Every person who grew up in New Jersey has memories of going down The Shore (note: we don't say "going to the beach") and making tons of memories there. You either have a house there yourself or know at least one person who does. Many day trips, as well as family vacations, were spent at The Shore, and no other place compares to it. Every family has their favorite destination: Belmar, LBI, Ocean City, Cape May, and countless others, each with their own specialties, including all the awesome boardwalks.

3. "Oh, you're from Joisey?"

Literally no one calls New Jersey "New Joisey." I have no idea where that term came from, but please stop saying it. No, I don't have an accent. And yes, it is pronounced "wuh-dur" not "wah-ter."

4. "New Jersey doesn't have any good food."

One thing you should know about people from New Jersey is that we are major bagel and pizza snobs. No one does those two foods quite like our state, and I've certainly been missing them while being away from home. Also, you can't beat hoagies from a Jersey deli or being able to go to a diner at any time of the day or night. In addition, the Garden State produces delicious fruits and veggies, like tomatoes, corn, and apples. New Jersey boasts some of the greatest food around, so don't underestimate our tiny state.

5. "New Jersey drivers are the worst."

Correction: everyone from outside of New Jersey does not know how to drive properly in our state. Yes, New Jersey drivers are aggressive. And yes, if you cut us off or drive too slow, we will get mad. Anyone from Jersey knows that 65 MPH really means 80. Of course, we will admit that our traffic sucks.

6. "Central Jersey doesn't exist."

Why do some people think there are only a North and a South Jersey? You're missing a huge (and very important) section of the state! I can confirm that there is, in fact, a Central Jersey, because I live there. An advantage to living in Central Jersey is that you're pretty much an equal distance from NYC, Philly, and The Shore. Although there are sometimes disagreements between people in different areas of NJ, we all get along for the most part.

7. "People from New Jersey are loud and obnoxious."

8. "Everyone in New Jersey is Italian."

Although I have absolutely nothing against Italians, this statement is not true. You can thank "The Sopranos," "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," and "Jersey Shore" for this common misconception. The great thing about New Jersey is that it is a melting pot of lots of different ethnicities, including, but not limited to, Italians.

9. "There's nothing to do in New Jersey."

This couldn't be further from the truth. For such a small state, New Jersey offers so many fun things to do. It has some great hiking trails, the Delaware River for kayaking and canoeing, beautiful beaches, pick-your-own farms, many lively towns, tons of fairs and festivals, and so much more. I promise you will never get bored in New Jersey.

10. "Why don't you just live in New York City or Philly?"

It's really quite simple: by living in New Jersey, you get the best of both worlds. You can live in a spacious, clean, and beautiful environment all while having easy and quick access to two of our country's greatest cities. If you want to live in a fun city with beautiful views of the NYC skyline, look no further than New Jersey's own Hoboken.

There is no denying that Jersey pride runs deep. Anyone who hails from the Garden State will defend its honor from anyone who tries to label it wrongly. Despite all the stereotypes, I'm proud to say that I come from this great state. No matter where life takes me in this world, I will always be a Jersey girl at heart.