If you're like me, you've been to at least one coffee shop in the city of Springfield. I, however, have been to almost all of them, but one has become my favorite over the course of time. That coffee shop would be The Potter's House.

This coffee shop is located on National Avenue across from Missouri State campus, but it feels like it is worlds away from school. It feels more like a home. Samson, who runs this shop, knows almost all consistent customers by name. He always welcomes everyone with a smile, even if he doesn't know you.

This coffee shop is unique because of how it is run. It runs on donations made by family and friends of the business. These donations allow the doors to stay open and for the prices of drinks to remain so low. Also, this shop is the only one that will stay open for all hours of the night when finals week rolls around for students. I'll never forget being here at 1 a.m. and being told to stop doing my studying, to get up, and have a pancake. This was just to help with the stresses that come with these two weeks of the year.

Also, this shop has become a meeting place for many young adult groups within churches. Many people share stories of how coming to one small group here turned their entire college experience around, something that is extremely special to this shop. This shop also doesn't have a large amount of food. They focus on snack food and the coffee they serve, which is also extremely delicious, by the way. If you get a frozen drink here, half of them are made with ice cream. I'm dead serious.

(I would highly recommend trying an Oreo Quicksand when you come here. It tastes like cookies and cream. However, if you're trying to make it through a night of homework, the Dirty Chai is always the best way to go.)

Another unique thing about Potter's House is Samson. Samson spends his holidays giving back to the community and he stays constantly devoted to this shop. He is honestly a large part of the experience of coming to Potter's House. Between the laughs of the staff, the dog that occasionally appears in here, and the cozy feeling, Potter's House is one of the biggest blessings I have ever found at Missouri State.