Everybody grows up in community that helps shape them into who they are as a person. My community played a huge role in that and I have a few things I need to thank the place I call home for.

Thank you for keeping me grounded.

I’ve never seen a community as strong, inviting and helpful as my own. I’ve been on both sides of the spectrum. I’ve been around to support others and I’ve been overwhelmed with support when I needed it. There’s nothing quite like experiencing love and support from your neighbors to keep you humble.

Thank you for that love and support.

Not only did it keep me grounded but it also kept me moving forward. Always knowing I had a support system behind me was motivation enough, but I also knew I always had an understanding place to fall back down to if I wasn’t exactly successful.

Thank you for the friends I’ve made.

I know the crazy group of people I have in my life wouldn’t be the same if they had grown up anywhere else. This town brings out some unique qualities in people. I’m incredibly thankful for each of them. My life wouldn’t be nearly as interesting without them. Whether it’s midnight snack runs or a “wake me up in the middle of the night” emergency, I know I have people I can count on.

Thank you for the unkept secrets.

Everybody knows everybody and everybody knows everything about everybody. Secrets are not a thing in this town. Whether they are big or small. You quickly taught me that honesty was key. If I thought I could lie to get myself out of something, I was certainly wrong. My mom would know even before I had the chance to tell her. This taught me responsibility and how to stand up and admit that I was wrong.

Thank you for the memories.

There was never much to do here. So we were always coming up with ridiculous ideas and finding our own entertainment. We rarely had the average go out to a movie and be satisfied kind of nights. But those ridiculous memories are the ones I'll cherish forever.

Thank you for pushing me to leave even if it’s hard to do.

No matter how much I love the tiny little place I knew I had to see what the rest of the world had to offer. I am incredibly thankful that I had the ability to get out and explore a bit. I’ve opened my mind and learned so much more than I ever expected I could.

Thank you for always welcoming me back.

No matter how far I wander, I know there’s a road that takes me home and at that home there are people I can count on. Life can be overwhelming sometimes and you can get lost in all of the chaos, it’s always reassuring to know that I have somewhere I can go to be found again.