Hometown Thoughts: A Walk Down Memory Lane

Maybe, it's because of next week's episode of The Bachelor, but I've been thinking a lot about my hometown recently and what that means to me as a graduating senior. I wouldn't typically think that my hometown is an interesting fact about me, but it seems that every time I tell anyone that I'm from Fayetteville, NC, I'm met with a look of shock or a joking "wow, I'm sorry." If you're from North Carolina, you might have your own opinions about Fayetteville; if you're from out of state, you may have never even heard of it.?

Here's some background

Fayetteville is actually one of the largest cities in North Carolina and is probably most known for being a military town. Fayetteville is directly connected to the largest military base in the country, Ft. Bragg, which has its own list of pros and cons. Unfortunately, Fayetteville is also known for having one of the highest crime rates in North Carolina.?

I think it's probably relevant to mention that I wasn't actually born in Fayetteville. I was born in San Diego, California, and I never failed to remember that. My dad moved us all to Fayetteville after 9/11 to take a job on Ft. Bragg, and while I remember absolutely zero of my life as a Californian toddler, I clung to the fact that I was from The Golden State. My parents had lived there almost all of their lives, and my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins remained 3,000 miles across the country. I grew up cursing the fact my parents ever moved me to a town where the most fun thing to do was take a trip to the Cross Creek Mall. I grew up resenting Fayetteville and struggled to find pride in my hometown.?

Something eventually clicked. When I was moving away for college, I suddenly realized that the town I had spent so long resenting was where I made every memory I had ever had. Getting my license, going to prom, meeting my childhood best friend, and countless other memories. Fayetteville shaped me as a person, and as much as I wanted to believe it, I would never be a California girl.?