To the place where I grew up,

When I left for college, I said goodbye to a lot of things: my best friends, my dad, my grandma, my sister, and even my room. I forgot to say goodbye to one of the things I'd eventually miss the most— my hometown. Honestly, I did not think I would miss you. Actually, I could not wait to leave you. Going to a university 5 hours away made me realize how much I miss you and how much I took you for granted. I guess the Cheers theme song was right, "sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came."

Thank you for making me drive the speed limit.

It is nearly impossible to speed in town limits.

Thank you for being home of the Cougars.

My favorite Friday nights were spent in Trentini Stadium.

Thank you for being historic.

As annoying as it is, I do smile when I have to explain to people "No, it's not the university."

Thank you for bringing me my best friends.

We made a lot of memories in this town. On that note, I'm sorry for saying there's nothing to do here. I mean it's true, but you taught us to come up with our own thing to do on Friday nights.

Thank you for being the only thing I know like the back of my hand.

I swear I could drive around this town with my eyes closed. I think I know you better than I know myself. I know the hours of all the fast food restaurants and grocery stores. Sometimes I wake up at the exact time that train would come by my house. There are some nights in college that I would give anything to hear that train.

Thank you for pushing me to leave.

If I never left, I would have never appreciated you like I should. If I never left, coming home would not be so sweet. If I never left, there would be no road that takes me home.

Thank you for always being here when I come back.

I'm not going to lie, one of the hardest things about returning home is seeing how much you have changed. I always come home and think we can pick up where we left off, but the world keeps spinning even when I'm not here. That was a hard lesson to realize. But I suppose that's how you feel about me too; every time I come home, I am different too.

Thank you for being mine.

I am so proud to call Wake Forest, North Carolina my hometown. As much as I threatened to leave and as annoyed I was with you at times, there is no where else that I would rather call home. Please forgive me for wanting to leave so badly. You have given me my forever friends and memories that I will never forget. You saw my worst and best moments. There is no other place that I would like to explain to my friends at college. Where ever the future leads me, a piece of me will always be with you. You made me who I am today. There is no place on Earth quite like you.

Here's to you Wake Forest, my home sweet home.

Dorothy was right, "there's no place like home."

missing you from 300 miles away,

Jordan

P.S. Get a cookout!!!