Thank you, Maryland, for everything you've brought me in life. Thank you for making me proud of where I came from no matter where I am now. Thank you for being endlessly beautiful end to end. Thank you for being Maryland.
I’ve never had so much pride in a flag. Maryland flag socks, shorts, sunglasses, cups, and t-shirts are a “you’re probably from Maryland” identifier. While people outside the state wonder why there’s so much emphasis on our flag, we feel some camaraderie with everyone in red, gold, and black.
Thank you for fun days at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium. We bleed orange and purple all year round. Taking the metro to Camden Yards on a cheap student night and chasing around the Oriole Bird is the best way to spend afternoons in the summer. Then comes the fall and winter of football. The past four years have proven that Ravens fans show up and cheer on whether we win or lose terribly. It’s all about Baltimore pride.
Thank you for even greater nights at the beautiful Inner Harbor. While Baltimore City doesn’t have the best reputation, the Inner Harbor is its saving grace. With an aquarium, stadiums, music venues, bars, shops, and the dragon boats there’s never a lack of things to do. Looking across the harbor at the city lit up at night makes you so appreciative of Maryland.
You’ve made me an expert in lacrosse. I began lacrosse at the age of 6 and I’ve seen plenty of toddlers running around with little plastic lacrosse sticks. While our state sport is actually jousting, our state team sport is lacrosse. We’ve got “lax bros” coming out of our ears and couldn’t be more proud.
I don’t need to go to College Park to know I want them to win every game. Basketball, football, or lacrosse, I want Maryland to win every game. Maryland gear doesn’t even need to be purchased at a school store because our flag and their colors are everywhere.
Adventures on the Chesapeake Bay are unparalleled. In the summer you can drive over the infamous Bay Bridge to the beautiful Chesapeake bay. We can spend our days in the water, on a boat tubing or fishing, or eating crabs by the water. I have the best memories from this body of water.
Go across the state for hiking in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. Not only do we have a beautiful body of water but, on the other side, we have mountains. Another great activity for the summer is to go hiking across the mountains that cover the east coast.
My life would be nothing without Old Bay and crabs. I could not be more thankful to be born in Maryland so that I could be able to pick a crab blindfolded since the age of 10. Disgusting hands that can’t touch anything and burning lips from the Old Bay, I’m never more content. I wouldn’t trade the hours spent sitting outside on a picnic table with friends and family for the world.
