When you meet new people, generally one of the first questions you hear is,

"Where are you from?"

and all the answers range from big cities, towns around yours, the same town as yours or some small town you've never heard of. When it comes to small towns, everyone knows everyone. There aren't too many kids in each grade, your teachers are your friend's mothers, your mom is the town's pharmacist and your best friend's dad is the dentist. There's that one substitute teacher that has been teaching since your mom was in school 30 years ago.

When people ask where I'm from my answer is one of those small towns in upstate New York — Lake George. It's a pretty small town. Some of you may have heard of it, but most of you, probably not... But it's not just any small town USA.

It was named most beautiful lake in the USA in June of 2015, which only helped the tourist season grow every summer. I may be from a small town, but that didn't stop me from experiencing all walks of life. People flock to Lake George from all over the world — to work, to play, to visit family or for a quick stop on their way to or from Canada or NYC.

I have lived here my whole life. I've gone kindergarten through senior year in Lake George. I have experienced Car Show, Americade, The Fireman's Parade — all things that the locals dread year after year, especially when summer rolls around and the Fourth of July comes up and there are fireworks, then there are fireworks every Thursday night the whole summer until Labor day, an excuse for the tourists to extend the weekend an extra night.

My few favorite things to do in the summer when I pretend to be a tourist would have to be mini golf and ice cream. My favorite mini golf place in Lake George is Around the World, even though Around the USA is the better course. The best ice cream in the village is arguable — either SJ Garcia's, or the Candy Apple.

I was talking with my aunt a few days ago and she told me growing up in the village, her favorite day of the week was Wednesday. No one was was really around — they were either going home or on their way to spend the weekend here. My brother had said he hates Wednesdays because if he's working, he cannot make any money because no one is in town.

One of my favorite things about Lake George is the history in the area. The French and Indian war happened way back around the 1750s, the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Lake George and a couple other historic events happened in Lake George. The Fort William Henry Museum is still standing as a site of the French and Indian war, along with Battle Field Park.

I love, love, love spending time on the lake, whether it be on the beach, on a boat, on an island or on a friend's dock. As long as I get to spend time on the water I am a happy camper — one of the perks of growing up a local. When I was little my family used to go camping on the islands all the time — another perk of being local.

I like going on hikes in the beautiful mountains surrounding the lake, I like that we are 25 minutes from Saratoga and about two hours from the Canadian Border.

I love Lake George.