New Jersey holds a special place in my heart. It will always be my home and I'll never stop loving it. From the iconic and extensive Jersey Shore to the small ice cream shops in my hometown, every bit is perfect to me. When traveling out of state for college, people from other states tend to have different opinions about New Jersey, and it's impossible to avoid the stereotypes.

1. "You're from New Jersey; everyone here is from New Jersey!"

Thanks for letting me know you met other people from New Jersey! If only meeting other people from Jersey changed your terrible opinions of my lovely home state.

2. "New York has better bagels and pizza than New Jersey."

No. Just no. It is impossible to get the New Yorkers to even slightly agree that we might have amazing bagels or perfectly cooked pizza, calling you out, Long Islanders! Agreeing with the New Yorkers that the bagels and pizza in any other state are awful is what truly brings us together, though.

3. "Why don't you have an accent?"

I don't, because the supposed "New Jersey accent" doesn't exist. Thanks for letting me know you based your opinions on the cast of Jersey Shore, which is famously known for being from New York. I talk just like any regular person and no I will not say "Joisey" when I say New Jersey for you.

4. "So like, you don't pump your own gas?"

Yes, Jersey girls don't pump gas, and for guys for that matter of fact too. We're super proud of it, and so when you do ask me this I will defend my state laws wholeheartedly. But really? You're going to ask me that question of all questions? First of all, everyone knows the answer and second, there are so many better ones you could've asked.

5. "New Jersey is the armpit of America."

SIGH. What does that even mean? So degrading of a beautiful state. Have you even been to places like Cape May, Duke Gardens, Wyanokie High Point, or Princeton? Tell me again it's the "armpit of America" because last time I checked, we have some of the most beautiful places and we have a lot of great people.

6. "Are you Italian?"

Why does everyone from New Jersey have to be Italian? Not everyone is! In fact, we have some large Jewish, Hispanic, and many more cultures that make us super diverse. So no, I'm not Italian and a lot of my neighbors aren't either!

7. "Ugh, I hate New Jersey drivers."

You just can't handle our fast paced lifestyle, it's simple. We get to where we need to go.

New Jersey is a lovely place to live. We have amazing schools, great neighborhoods, and opportunities around every corner. I consider myself lucky to be a New Jerseyan. Next time anyone wants to say somthing negtaive about New Jersey, you better have experienced all parts of New Jersey.