Born and raised in the Mitten and I’ve definitely thought about leaving.

Except for the spontaneous trip to Kentucky I took a few months ago, the basic summer adventures to Cedar Point, and the few family vacations I’ve taken out of state over the years, I’ve spent the majority of my 19 years here in Michigan. I’m a real sucker for the ocean and for sunny summer days, so when winter hits, I’d much rather be on the coast soaking up the sun. I mean I think everyone in Michigan can agree they’d rather be in that nice 80 degree weather then buttoning up jacket number three to walk to their car, but that isn’t my point. I can’t count how many times I told myself I would move out of state for college once I graduated high school, yet here I am, a year out of high school and still living in the good ole mitten. If you asked me a year ago how excited I was about that, I definitely would just stare at you blankly thinking, “No, how could one consider that exciting.” To be completely honest, I still do not find my hometown exciting, which is okay, I mean at least it’s convenient to other towns and to the airport. As for the rest of the state, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Michigan has given me a lot of places and memories to be grateful for. Not only is Detroit the car capital of the world, but we have the 5 beautiful Great Lakes. One place very special to me would definitely be Up North. Up North is not a specific place and every Michigander has their own version of what and where it is, but a weekend road trip up there, is a perfect getaway into nature. No matter how long it has been since my last trip up there, I will always feel a sense of home when I pull into the cottage driveway. A lake is a short 5 minute walk to the end of the street and the Mackinaw Bridge is only a few hours away. I have to say my favorite part is the genuine, polite people that live up there. People actually smile at you and say hello. In southeast Michigan, those kinds of people are rare to stumble upon.

Another place I’m extremely grateful for is Mackinaw Island. I mean how cool is it that we have a whole island that doesn’t allow cars on it? My answer is that it’s pretty freaking great. I mean you can bike ride around the entire island in a few hours and still have time to devour fudge in every shop there. It’s definitely a community I wish I could be a part of more often. Up in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan only gets more breathtaking. Stepping out onto the path to one of the Tahquamenon Falls is an experience I suggest for everyone to take at least once, especially if you are from Michigan. The copper colored water and being able to walk right up to the edge of the falls is indescribable. It definitely puts me in awe. Every. Single. Time.

One place though that is much closer to my home town is Ann Arbor, home to the wolverines. A very important person in my life gave me a tour around this town a little while back, and after I was quite envious they got to call this place home. The cute coffee shops, stores, nature parks, restaurants, everything made me want to stay. Besides all of the places to visit, the one aspect I will always and forever be grateful for is our summers. There isn’t a place I’d rather be then right here during the months of June to August. Unless you live here, you won’t understand the significance our summers hold.

In the last year, I’ve really realized what Michigan means to me. It’s a place I’m proud to call my home state, a place I wouldn’t mind building a life. The majority of my family lives here and family is something very important to me. Without them, life would be pretty depressing. Through having my viewpoint on Michigan shifted, I was shown more of its beauty and became very grateful for that.

This is home, and everyone who gets to call it that is pretty damn lucky.