My whole life I remember my classmates and friends saying "I cannot wait to get out of Ohio." I would casually nod my head and agree with them, not really reading into what they were saying. As I reached high school and college and found myself visiting new parts of my state, it finally registered in me that I really didn't agree with them at all. I came to realize that I am in love with the place I call home.

Some days I wake up to terrible weather, scary road conditions, potholes, constant construction and 40 degree temperature shifts during a period of three hours.

But some days I wake up to a crisp, fall breeze wandering in through my window. Some nights I go to sleep to the sound of rain hitting my perfect home and watering the beautiful life that surrounds it. Some days I wake up to the sight of hundreds of beautiful trees colored in red, brown and orange. I wander down to my college town of Athens tucked in the hills and nestled around beauty and the most home-y feeling you could ever imagine.

I go north to Cleveland and feel the passion, love and excitement everyone has for their city. The seasons each bring their own kind of beauty to the state, no matter how much I complain about the heat or the cold, I love them all. I love the colors in the fall and the perfect sweatshirt weather. The bonfires, camping trips and football games. I love the snow-covered trees in the winter. Chilly nights with my family, freak snow storms and cancelled classes. I love the rain in the spring. The puddles in all the potholes, the tiny flowers blooming and the excitement for warmer days. I love the heat of summer. The days at the lake, the late nights with friends and cook-outs in the evenings.

I have been to many places around this country, but none will touch my heart the way Ohio has and always will. The love people have for this state is unbelievable and I finally understand it. There are many beautiful places out there, but no matter where I go, I'll always return home.