Growing up in a small, quiet beach town in Florida, you can say I wasn't exposed to much.
The most you ever heard about police was if an officer was parked along the side of the road that most students took to school—or, maybe if you cried your way to get out of a very expensive ticket. The most you talked about bankruptcy was after a long day of shopping on Ocean Drive. The most you talked about poverty was when you volunteered at your church's clothing drive.
And let me tell you, we didn't talk about racism.
So when I decided to pack my bags and leave my bathing suits at home to play lacrosse at The University of Detroit Mercy in Michigan, I received some horrifying responses. They ranged from the possibility of me being kidnapped and killed to looks of disgust for going to school in such a "dirty and poor place." Of course, how could you blame them? The media doesn't always portray Detroit in the best of light, but despite all of these assumptions I decided to do my own research and here is why I fell in love with this city.
On my first visit, I'll have to admit, it was a little nerve-racking. Traveling all the way across the country for school in a place that no one had anything nice to say about isn't easy. Upon arriving, the entire campus was gated and I had never seen that before (but extra safety is always good, right?). The one thing I remember the most, though, is when we walked into the convenience store across the street and the entire counter was protected by thick bullet proof glass. Let's talk about the shock value that place got out of me; it was high.
Yet, even though my surroundings were drastically different, the people I've met along the way here were not the scary gang members and drug dealers that you see on television. They have been some of the greatest, hardworking, smartest and most proud people that I had yet to encounter. It was like all the hardships and curveballs that had been thrown at them weren't bringing these people down, it brought them closer together. When you walk around Detroit, you feel the heightened sense of community. These people have been through hell and back, and yet they keep their heads up and are finding reasons to smile with a "It all has to go up from here" attitude.
It's one of the most inspiring and moving experiences that I've had so far. It taught me that you need to do everything you can with the cards you were dealt and how far a smile and a positive attitude will take you towards change.
So here we might not have the nicest buildings, or the most money, or the lowest crime level—but we have family and community and drive for wanting better for ourselves and those who enjoy this city after us; it's nitty and gritty and we love it. We love that we have to prove ourselves even more because Detroit is on the front of our shirts, and believe me, we will.
