When you have lived in the same place for 18 years of your life, you form a real sense of place. This place is your hometown, and hometowns are so important. Whether you love the place you grew up in or not, your roots are there regardless. In order to know where you are going, you first have to understand where you came from.
My hometown is the place where I place some of my fondest memories. It's the place where my childhood friends and I ran through backyards and played pretend. It's where I went to school every day for 13 years. It's where I discovered so much about myself. Without all of the experiences I had in my hometown, I would not be the person I am today.
My hometown is where I found some of the best friends I will ever have. It is where I learned the importance of friendship in my life and what it means to be a loyal friend. I value friendship so much, and that is primarily due to the experiences I have had in my hometown.
My hometown is where I was lost and found again. It's where I found out what makes me weak, and what brings me to my lowest. But more importantly, my hometown is where I built myself back up again. It's where I found what makes me strong, and what makes me, me. It is here that I learned to be myself, regardless of what others think.
My hometown is where time flew by. One moment, I am just beginning kindergarten. The next, I am in middle school, finding my way and trying to conform to the newest trends in clothes. I blink, and I am walking through the front doors of my high school as a freshman, not sure of where I am going. And then I am a senior dressing up for prom and walking across the stage at graduation, proud of the person I have become over the years. Fast-forward once more, and I'm packing up the car for college, ready for a new adventure in a new home.
My hometown is where I discovered the things that I love. It's where I found my interest and talent for music. It's where I found my love for science and writing. I learned a lot about myself and what I am capable of along the way.
My hometown is where I run back to when I need some familiarity. When I just need a chance to breathe and escape from the stress and responsibility of college, my hometown is where I escape to. And with each time I return to this place, the place of my roots, I appreciate more and more what I gained from my upbringing there. I am who I am, and much of that I owe to my hometown.
