I come from a small town outside of Cleveland, Ohio. Most people from the Cleveland area don't even know my town so when I meet new people at Ohio State I don't even bother naming it.

It's the kind of town that has more farm fields, churches, and golf courses than gas stations or restaurants. In fact, when my boyfriend and I met another couple in downtown Cleveland this past weekend and told them where we were from, the first thing the other boyfriend asked was: "So which golf course do you live right next to?"

It was a fair question.

So I'm from a small town where every man I know is some kind of physical laborer, but I go to Ohio State, where I meet people who have grandpas who work for the government, dads who are lawyers and boyfriends who are pre-Med. And without a doubt, every single time I introduce myself, my family, my life back home in small town Ohio, I receive a hint of judgment.

When I tell them that my dad is a flooring installer, but theirs is a doctor, I get a little, "Oh that's cool."

When I tell them that my boyfriend is a union roofer I get, "Oh, wait, so he's not in college?"

No.

He's not in college, my dad didn't go either, and no one else in my family has except my mom.

College isn't for everyone, and it shouldn't have to be. And that's not even me saying that my dad or boyfriend couldn't have gone to college, they definitely could have.

My dad and mom had me in high school, so by the time my dad graduated high school he had a baby on the way. No point, or financial capability, to go to school when you're going to have a third mouth to feed.

The same goes for my boyfriend. He graduated high school and already knew he didn't want to go to college.

So they didn't go to college. Why would they? They had all they needed: a strong work ethic and a town full of men in trades willing to teach them.

I'm sure the same goes for so many other small towns. Not everyone needs to go to college. If I had a marketable trade when I had graduated high school I definitely wouldn't be spending tens of thousands of dollars to get an undergraduate degree. But I didn't have any trade I could make a life for myself with, so I furthered my education so that I'm able to get a job.

I'm proud of where I come from, who my family is, who my boyfriend is, and the town of men that are constantly helping each other out and teaching the younger generations the trades. It says a lot to be willing to tear down your body each and everyday for hours on end in order to provide yourself or your family the life you want.

Physical labor isn't easy, ask anyone who does it. They don't do it because they love it, they do it because they can and it has to be done.

So, please, start giving the due respect to those who fix your car, construct your home, install your flooring, fix your roof, landscape your yard, fix the roadways, maintain the cable lines. If you aren't willing to do that physical labor yourself, then don't roll your eyes at the men and women who do.

And don't get me wrong, doctors and lawyers and engineers should be respected as well. I'm not taking anything away from those who spend years furthering their education. What I am saying is that just because you don't further your education, doesn't make you less than, so don't look at people that way.

No matter if it's education or physical labor, people will always have to work for what they want. So respect them.

I have to insert the LeBron James quote now, (I'm from Cleveland, okay?):

"In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have."