There is something special about growing up in a small town. Going to Friday Night Football games as a high schooler, or riding your bikes around town in elementary.

My childhood was filled with soccer games, church events, and nights at the county fair with my family.

As I grew older I would always say I was ready to leave, but I never took a second to reflect on how my town shaped who I was.

I loved my small town. Those long nights driving down backroads with my friends and sitting around backyard bonfires. Those special memories I will carry with me forever.

My town taught me a lot.

I learned how to play volleyball, play the piano, and how to show a sheep.

I learned life lessons too.

My town taught me how to love, how to work hard, and how to be humble and kind.

Important lessons I won't forget.

Don't get me wrong growing up in a small town isn't always butterflies and rainbows.

My small town also taught me that not everyone has good intentions, and even the kindest people still get hurt.

But after hurt comes forgiveness… and I learned how to forgive in my small town too.

I always said how ready I was to leave, but I didn't take a second to say thank you.

Thank you to my small town from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you to the people who loved, and supported me, and those who continue to do so.

Thank you for all of the fond memories and special times.

Thank you to those who continue to work to make my small town better.

Thank you to other small towns too.

Those towns that are hours away from any major city. Those towns out passed the truck stops, and past the fields. Thank you to those towns too.

My hope is for any kid who grew up in my small town, or any small town to be able to look back on their childhood and be thankful to have grown up in a small town too.

I grew up on a small town American dream, and while I go out and chase it, I will always have the influence of my small town.

No small town is perfect. But I am thankful for mine. I'm thankful for my small town because it made me the person I am today.