Not everybody grows up where they're from. Take me, for example. I was born in the state of Washington, but unfortunately, brought over to the 'exciting' state of Ohio when I was only two years old. Little did I know how important it was for me to take a step back in time, even though I was trying to move forward into West Virginia.

This summer, I decided to go back to the place where it all began. 

Traveling, in general, is exciting. Packing your bags, getting away, and getting on a plane over those 'fly over states' is always a fun experience. Landing in a town that you know has so much history to your life, makes it 10 times better. It's important to go back to these places because you learn about the history of where you're from. You can research where you were born, where you lived, the people in that area, and the geography. 

Going away to college, especially after your first year, changes a lot about a person. You have more stress than you ever thought possible and, most likely,  you've been faced with challenges that you never expected. Traveling during the summer allows you time to step back and figure out who you are as a person, who you want to be, and where you want to go in life.

When you travel, it opens up a whole new world. You're able to make dreams for yourself because of the experiences you have and the things that you see. When you travel back to a hometown, you experience that on top of the history it holds for you. Binging myself back to my roots makes me that much more excited to continue making my future something to be proud of. I'm that much more excited to go back to school and make myself and everyone around me proud. It reminded me of how important it is to make the most out of my college years, because they're something you won't get back. Do things you never thought you would do, travel when you get the chance, get as close to your sisters and brothers as you can, and find yourself.