Dear hometown,
Hello, it’s me. We go way back, don’t we? In fact, we’ve been friends for about 20 years now. Those years have been full of ups and downs, good times and bad. You’ve seen my struggles and you’ve seen my triumphs. Really, hometown, you and I have been through it all. Leaving you to go to college was hard, probably one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do. How does someone find it easy to leave a place that’s full of so many memories? However, going to college has actually made me appreciate you more, Hometown. It made me realize that I have so much to thank you for.
First off, I want to thank you for never changing, for continuing to be the rural, country, small-town that you always were. College is a time full of change, uncertainty, and sharp turns around every corner. With so much change, it’s great to have a place to go where change isn’t a problem, a place where it seems time stands still. Hometown, you are that place for me. I can go to the high school and see the same banners hanging up in the gym; I can drive through town and pass old shops that have been there longer than I’ve been alive. You’re antique, you’re traditional, and you’re unique. You may not have the Statue of Liberty or the Golden Gate Bridge, but you’re special and eternal all the same. I fully support change, for it can be healthy in its own way, but as people, we need as escape from life’s constant need for us to adapt. You’ve given me that, hometown, and I can’t thank you enough for that.
I also want to thank you for the people that make you so great. For the perfect Hometown isn’t defined by the buildings, but by the people. I remember going to the grocery store one day over Thanksgiving Break and seeing at least 10 people I knew, and each and every one of them was happy to see me. College isn’t always like that. At the university, it’s not very common for someone to recognize or know the majority of the people in the room. Once they come home, they are surrounded by not only people who love them, but also by people who have known them their entire lives. I also want to thank you for giving me people that have become some of my closest friends. Every time I come home, I’m reminded of the wonderful times we had together, and that no matter how many miles separate us, the love I have for these people will never change.
All in all, I could write pages over how much you mean to me Hometown. You’ll forever be my escape from stress and the place that'll always have my heart. When people grow up, they often face the reality that their Hometown doesn’t have a lot to offer. Maybe it’s the job market, or maybe their dreams are bigger than the small town they grew up in. I have no idea what my future holds, but regardless of where I live one day, you’ll always be important to me, hometown. Thank you for everything, truly.
With love and great admiration,
A small-town girl attempting to handle university life
