Ugh, Plymouth-Canton. I have spent 15 years of my life growing up and living in this ordinary, yet not-so-ordinary, suburb of Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was in Plymouth-Canton where I met my best friends, practiced my love for dance, learned how to ride a bike, went to my high school football games and dances, learned how to drive, had a lot of my firsts, and a lot of my lasts. Speaking to anyone who can call Plymouth-Canton their childhood home, I really think that it takes being removed from our community of people, places, and memories to really, truly appreciate all that Plymouth-Canton has brought to our lives and experiences growing up. So, here is to being a Plymouth-Canton kid.

1. "What high school do you go to?"

Ahh..PCEP. What a high school experience that was, right?! We went to a high school campus comprised of three high schools and over 6,000 students making Plymouth-Canton Educational Park the largest high school campus in the nation. So, the question, "What high school do you go to?" can be asked to your next door neighbor or the guy you sit next to in class...weird. Being a student of PCEP also meant three homecomings, having football rivals sitting next to each other in class, staring at the countless confused faces of those who you try to explain your high school experience to, and that you were able to accept and appreciate the importance of diversity and fast-walking skills long before college.

2. Knowing Ford Road is an absolute mess.

The majority of restaurants and stores that are located in Canton just so happen to all be located on Ford Road making the drive down Ford the ultimate test of your driving and patience. The amount of short cuts and alternate routes I have learned to avoid this mess we call a road is actually quite impressive.

3. Saying you are either from Ann Arbor or Detroit.

When saying where you are from in the dreaded ice breakers that for some reason are still a thing in college, you either say you are from Ann Arbor or Detroit because why would anyone know where Plymouth-Canton is? Not going to lie though, being smack-dab in the middle and just a short drive from two of the best cities in the state is pretty darn cool.

4. Downtown Plymouth is so, so precious.

Bella Mia. Dairy King. The Plymouth Yoga Room. Penn Theater. While most of them are extremely over-priced, you cannot help loving to supporting the local businesses in Downtown Plymouth.

5. Awesome fries!!!

Zack's can very well be one of the most questionable dining experiences you may ever have...where is that bacon even from? The restaurant itself is so unappealing, but the food (especially the awesome fries and milkshakes) are such a necessity on late weekend nights. Oh, and you can't forget that Zack's primary source of income on weekend nights comes from PCEP kids, so always be prepared to at least someone you recognize at all times.

6. You know to always, always, always avoid downtown Plymouth on the first and last days of school.

It is hard for me to complain too much because I was that middle schooler swarming Panera,Yogurt Palooza, and Starbucks on the first and last days of school too, but there really is something that draws the Plymouth-Canton middle school population to Downtown Plymouth. So with that, never, ever go to Downtown Plymouth on those days to avoid a Starbucks line that goes out the door of kids ordering frappucinos and the possibility of being trampled just trying to make your way across Kellogg Park.

7. You count down the days until cider slushes and cider mill donuts return each fall.

On the first few days Plymouth Orchards opens, you can almost guarantee that you will see at least five social media posts of the infamous cider slush and warm, cinnamon donuts. There is never going to be a donut that will ever taste better than those beautifully created at Plymouth Orchards, and you absolutely have to wash down that goodness with a cider slush. Living the fall season without both of those has truly been quite the sad challenge.

8. Ikea = the jewel of Canton

I will probably always and forever be so confused as to why the Ikea parking lot is completely full almost every single day of the week. Why do so many people need so much furniture all of the time? The furniture is cheap, the cinnamon rolls are good, and people come from all over the Midwest come to have the Canton Ikea experience.

9. The Plymouth Coffee Bean

Being away from Plymouth-Canton for the first time in my life last year, I never really understood the importance The Plymouth Coffee Bean had on my life. This coffee shop is so unique and just about as"hipster" as Plymouth can get, but their coffee is so incredibly good and the environment is perfect for either hanging out with friends or cramming for a test.

10. Everyone in the community coming together for the SJ5K.

The SJ5K has got to be one of the most powerful, annual events in Plymouth-Canton. The students of PCEP's National Honor Society come together every year to put together a 5k race benefiting families in need from around the community by raising thousands of dollars. Looking around PCEP's varsity field and seeing families, students, and community members coming together on an early Sunday morning to help families they may or may not now, makes me so proud to call Plymouth-Canton home.

11. The Liberty and Fall Festival

Liberty Fest was the mark of the school year starting while Fall Fest marked the start of a new school year. Once again, you can find just about every single middle school student at either one of these events, but the funnel cakes are so worth navigating your way through the crowds and the sketchy pop-up rides.

12. You can easily walk around and find someone who does not look like you.

Plymouth is a little bit of a different story, but Canton is extremely diverse in terms of race and ethnicity. Walking around PCEP, while definitely primarily white, is filled with students from all different religions, races, ethnicities, sexualities, and many more--Plymouth-Canton kids (for the most part) do not even think twice about seeing, befriending, or encountering someone who looks and thinks different than they do.

13. As much as there has been complaints of how "boring" Plymouth-Canton is, you know that there really is no place like home.

It has taken me being moved out of Plymouth-Canton for over year to truly appreciate and love the place I am so thankful to call home. Plymouth-Canton has so many people, places, and memories held in it that I will forever miss and love, so thank you Plymouth-Canton for being such an incredible community for me to grow up in.