Hometowns are right at the very core of who you are as a person in this world. They make up your history and experiences. The stories and memories that are stored in your heart will live on and be passed on for many generations.
My hometown is Wheeling, West Virginia. Although I was born in Ohio, and lived in the very small town of Toronto, Ohio for five short years, that is not my home town. All of my childhood memories and experiences took place in Wheeling. This is the place where I moved into my house with my family. My house has held so many birthday parties, cook outs, boyfriends, pets, and the list goes on. It has stood through storms, floods, countless renovations, and wild children. I have so many wonderful memories of growing up with my brother and sister at home. My sister and I would play with our Barbie dolls for hours, while we periodically had to hide our dolls and houses from our little brother so he wouldn't destroy them. We all played outside on our swing set, trampoline, and we swam in our pool for hours on end. I am forever thankful for those days that made us as close as we are today.
Aside from my home in Wheeling, I also attended top notch schools. I can still remember getting on the bus on the first day of first grade, sixth grade, and freshman year of high school with that anxious feeling of butterflies in my stomach. I made life long friends at Elm Grove Elementary School, as did my brother and sister. I went to Bridge Street Middle School, where I met my first real boyfriend, my best friends, and I became a cheerleader. I can still recall all of the middle school cheerleading competitions, cheer camps, and games that my team and I had so much fun at. Let's not forget all of the drama, movie dates, ice skating, walking everywhere and anywhere, and school dances. Those pre-teen times seem quite embarrassing now, but I wouldn't change anything. Wheeling Park High School was the place where I received awesome opportunities. I was a cheerleader for three years, inducted into the National Honor Society, in the French club and French Honor society, in community service clubs, on the American Cancer Society Youth Board, participated in Queen of Queens, and the list goes on. Through all of the AP classes, volunteer work, ACT prep, high school dances, and football games, my high school career was amazing. A huge thank you to all of my past teachers for passing on there wisdom and knowledge to me.
I also had a beautiful and inspirational dance career here in Wheeling. I would not be where I am today without the hard work of my dance teachers. The dance competitions and recitals will always be a part of me.
Thanks to Wheeling, I have a job in my home town. I am an aerobics instructor at the Howard Long Wellness center. Who knew that this opportunity would rise for me? I've learned so much about fitness and I'm thankful for all of the people who have helped me be where I am today.
Wheeling has also given me a life as a college student. I attend West Liberty University, where I am majoring in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Education. I have joined the dance team and I have so many incredible people. I cannot wait to see what the future has in store. This is the place where I grew up. I can imagine myself living in this beautiful city and raising a family here. Wheeling is truly an amazing place.
