Dear Home,

Whoever coined the phrase "home sweet home" definitely had you, my sweet hometown, in mind.

Even though I've left you for my college town, it doesn't mean you have left my heart. Sure, my college town might have all the cool parties, fall football games, independence, Greek life, and all of my wonderful friends that are from all over the country (and even some from other countries). Sure, college offers all these wonderful things, but hometown, you always offer familiarity, a sense of security, and lots of memories. I might call my college town home every once in a while, but that's because it's the ground under my feet. What matters is that you are still in my heart, and you are truly home.

Don't get me wrong, I looooove my college town. But you, my hometown, serve as a nice reminder of who I am and where I came from. This is the place where I had my first day of school, my first crush, my first real friends, my first love, and my first heartbreak. You hold all of the destinations for the oh, so big events that happened in my life. This place is where I formed friendships (the long lasting and the not-so long lasting) that I will never, ever forget. This is the place where I grew up and became the person I am today. This is the place where almost everywhere I go and everywhere I look, there's a memory (good, bad, and ugly) and there's a story.

I owe you so much gratitude for everything you have done to shape my life. But with that, I think I owe you an apology as well. I'm sorry I took you and all you have to offer for granted before I left for college. I can still hear myself saying "I want to get out of here and go far, far, far away for college." I remember counting down the days until I moved to my new college town. I was so eager to leave you. Little did I know how much I would miss you once I was gone. Although I regret wishing away my time with you, I think leaving made me appreciate you so much more. It really is true, the saying "you don't know what you have until it's gone." Since I moved away to live in my college town, I realize how lucky I am to have grown up in a town like you.

Our hometowns shape us into who we become. Our hometowns give us people and experiences that shape our lives. Our hometowns can lead us to our colleges, our future careers, our future spouse, and our future lives. My hometown gave me some of my best friends and led me to my wonderful college.

So, my sweet hometown, I think I owe you a very big thank you. Thank you for all the people, the experiences, and the memories you have given me. You will always be home to me.