Some of the things I heard when I was applying to Georgia Southern was that it is "po-dunk" and boring. As a transfer from Savannah College of Art and Design, I guess I had gotten the opposite style of campus in Savannah. The city-style campus at SCAD was too loud and spread out for me. Savannah, at least in my eyes as a suburban Georgia boy was the big city. However, Statesboro was a different feeling to me - a feeling that I really liked.

Lately, I have overheard a lot of people talking about how much they hate it here in Statesboro or how they are going to transfer out - and that's ok. It can be kind of hard to listen to somebody say shitty things about something you genuinely like, and that's just how it goes. I get it why people would not like it here. It's not a big city. There are not too many things to do on a weekday. The constant ninety-degree heat in the summer is too hot.

In an odd way, however, one of the things I like about Statesboro is that people don't like it.

It makes it feel that more special to me.

Those who are quick to criticize have not felt the spirit of a football gameday - even if we lose. Nor have they ever been to Charlie's Fried Chicken at 2 a.m. when they want amazing food from a hole in the wall. I bet they couldn't even say that they that they love the smell of Georgia pine trees in the morning on their walk to class. Have they even gotten the time to marvel at the amazing live oak trees in Sweetheart Circle?

Sure, Statesboro has some growing to do, but every great city had to start from somewhere, and I can reassure the critics out there that this is nowhere near the start of a growth.

However, day by day I see this town grow in leaps and bounds and it makes me proud.

I wish more people loved Statesboro because I sure love it here.

To sum it up, Statesboro isn't the ideal place for everyone. If you can't feel the immense pride and joy that comes with living here, then I recommend you save your energy and live somewhere else. Leave room for the rest of us that love it here.