Perks Of Growing Up In Iowa

I was born in Iowa Falls, Iowa, but have had the opportunity to live in a few other towns such as Pella, Alden and Waverly. There are many things I love about the state of Iowa that I am blessed to have grown up with. Each different thing make Iowa special to me, and I am so glad I was born here. I still have a lot of family in this state, so I am lucky to get to go back and visit all the time.

1. It doesn't just have cornfields.

Iowa is known as the cornfield state. It is a state that is mainly farmland. What some people don't know is that there are actually some towns that have beautiful lakes where you can own cabins and beach homes. My family owns a cabin in Clear Lake, Iowa, and every summer we drive four plus hours to spend time there.

This cabin has been in my family forever and was passed down each generation starting with my great great grandma. My favorite time to go to the cabin is during July 4 because there is a week-long festival with performers and a carnival. Then on the holiday day, we get to watch fireworks on the beach. This is my favorite part of the trip because the fireworks glow onto the lake and it's just a beautiful scene to watch.

2. Iowa Hawkeye fans love everyone.

There are two Iowa college teams that are rivals. You're either a Hawkeye or a Cyclone. I have been attending Iowa games since 1995, so my family members are diehard Hawkeye fans. I was blessed to be able to attend many bowl games in states such as Texas, Arizona and Florida. Every year my grandparents would pay for my trip to travel with them to these warm states and enjoy a football game as well as many other activities the bowl game has going on all week.

If you are wearing Hawkeye gear, anywhere you go someone who is a fan will yell, "Go, Hawks" at you. This is just a given and every fan does it. My favorite part of being a Hawkeye fan is wearing Iowa gear in Illinois and someone here that's a fan yells it at me. I love being a Hawkeye fan, and love to go to any game I can. My grandpa has season tickets to both the football and basketball games, so every year we get to watch games with him.

3. Some laws are different.

There are a few laws that are different in Iowa than in Illinois, so I've been able to witness growing up having to follow two different laws, depending on which state I'm staying in. One law that is different is you get your permit when you are 14 in Iowa, but when you live in Illinois you get it when you are 15. I lived in Illinois when I turned around the permit age, so I got mine when I was 15. But it is kind of cool knowing my cousin got hers when she was younger than me and still learned how to drive just as fast. I like how you get your permit at 14 in Iowa because then you get two years to practice driving with a parent, instead of one year like Illinois has. I feel like two years is better because you get a longer time to learn.

Another law use to be the seatbelt law, but now it's the same as Illinois. When I was little, in the back seat you never had to wear a seatbelt. Then the law changed to only if you were an adult you didn't have to wear one. But now it is the same as Illinois and it is against the law to not have a seat belt on.

I am so glad I was born in another state because Iowa has shown and taught me many things. I love the state and am very passionate about their sports teams and towns. I love visiting all my family that lives back home there.