I've had the privilege of being able to say that I grew up on Long Island for the past 15 years, but it took me much longer to actually come to appreciate everything that I had.

When people think of Long Island, most of the time, their minds go to "The Great Gatsby" and they think of all the glitz and the glamour. Because of this label, many people think of Long Island as its own little bubble.

Growing up, I knew I lived inside a bubble and I absolutely hated it because I thought so many people around me were trapped in this imaginary "perfect" world that didn't exist but were brainwashed to believe it did. I constantly felt like my mind was always in conflict and I wanted to scream because it felt all too suffocating and fake.

This constant internal battle with myself eventually made me turn against the place that I was supposed to call "home." I began disliking all the aspects of it and told myself that I was going to escape this "bubble" once I graduated high school and all would just be "better."

In my first year of college at Stony Brook, which is ironically located on Long Island, my perception of "home" completely changed. As I met new people throughout the year, I unconsciously found myself talking highly about my childhood town and how lucky I was to be surrounded by beautiful beaches for summer sunsets, local markets and gardens, malls with endless numbers of different stores, and top-rated and various restaurants.

Home no longer felt suffocating but calming. Home no longer felt fake but authentic. Home no longer felt unfamiliar but mine. I was finally becoming acquainted with the place I used to despise.

I realized that the reason it took so long for me to appreciate everything that I had was that I had no reason to count my blessings when I was surrounded by them because I had become so used to them. Going to school and meeting new people gave me the opportunity to vocalize everything that I did have this whole time, which made me understand how important it is to stay grounded and really take the time to be grateful. It's so easy to become overwhelmed by life itself with our own personal problems that we forget to be wholeheartedly thankful.

I am writing this article to remind anyone reading this to really take a step back and appreciate their hometowns because home is where the heart is. It truly is. We should be able to take a breathe and appreciate the little things that we often overlook because we think they're not as significant.

But as you continue to acknowledge those minuscule things, they build up and it changes your perspective. The scenic views you pass by will become more noticeable and vibrant, the same shops you pass by will be comforting, and the places where you had memorable moments will be more treasured.