To My Hometown,

I left Highland, California, a year ago. Four days after I graduated from High School. Leaving behind everything I had known and loved for eighteen years. When my family moved to Texas, I was less than happy. I was unbelievably upset, after all I had essentially spent my entire life in the city of Highland.

Highland was a place I did not give enough appreciation to while I was living there. I was born in Texas and visited there every year of my life. So naturally, I always talked about wanting to move to Texas, that is, until I was told as a junior that I was going to be moving to Texas after graduation.

Granted I was going there for college anyway, I wasn't ready to leave California just yet. I guess I always kind of thought my family would still be there so that I could go back anytime I wasn't in school for the semester. Well, enough about when I moved... I'm here to tell you today about why I love Highland and how Highland made me who I am today.

Why do I love my hometown so much? Well, that's quite a loaded question. There are so many reasons that Highland was the place I grew up loving. For one, I was raised there so that's where my "roots" are. And can I just say that it's not that bad when your "roots" are grounded in an area where you can see mountains all around you. Gosh, the mountains, how I miss them.

Highland is my home, my church is there, my schools were there, and the "family" I grew up with are there. You see, both sides of my family lived in different states, so my church friends and school friends alike became family to me. I met my best friend when I was three and her family became my second family. I was never alone when I was in Highland and that alone makes me love it more than I could ever explain.

Highland made me who I am in a wide variety of ways. It taught me that family and friends are so incredibly important. However, God should be the main focus in my life. Now, did Highland teach me this or the people there? Definitely the people there. Those older than me, younger than me, and even the same age as me.

While living in Highland I kind of just wandered from friend group to friend group trying to "fit in". Although now that I look back, I am glad that God gave me the friends that he did.

When I say that I didn't appreciate Highland, I am being dead serious. I constantly looked for a way out. Which is the one thing I regret the most. I know I can't go back but I can change my attitude now. I can allow myself to not think the way I did about my hometown while living in Dallas.

Although, I can't see that happening. Considering I love Dallas, Texas and everything that has happened for me while living here. However, you can ask any of my friends and they'll tell you that I talk about California "far too much".

But how can I not? I mean when you grew up in the best state in America, it's hard to not be biased! In California you get every type of weather, climate, and nearly every ecosystem. You can go from the beach, to the mountains, to the desert all in one day if you would like to. Or in any other order that you so chose.

I personally believe people can feel the closest to God in any way or any place. (look for a blog on that at some point soon). However, I feel closest to God in nature, and it was almost impossible to not get that where I grew up. Growing up next to the mountains and away from the city truly made Highland absolutely magnificent.

I cannot say one bad thing about the city of Highland or my friends there, because it shaped who I am today and lead me to Dallas. I am proud to say I grew up in California and I wouldn't change that for anything!

From,
The Girl Who Loves Highland, California