The town I grew up in contains the streets that I walked on many times with my friends, and later where we rode around because that was the only thing there was to do. There's the town swimming pool where I spent many summers and got really tan. There are the houses of friends that I used to visit, the two restaurants (who have since switched owners), one of the two convenience stores, the now-closed grocery store, the old store front I spent many hours at church, as well as the old KC building where I did the same, which was next to the field where I saw my first fight take place with practically the entire high school there to watch.
The memories that town hold will never leave me.
Sometimes, I compare myself to the girl I was growing up. I used to be more carefree and full of spirit and laughter. I know that responsibilities, adulthood, and everyday stressors affect our youthfulness, but sometimes I long to laugh so freely, talk as carefree, and live a little more worry-free like I did back then.
I didn't always have the most easy-going, perfect youth. Like most other teenagers, I battled rebellion, depression, drama, trauma, breakups, fights, punishment, strict curfews, trouble, and even acne. But when I think back, those troubling or harder times are not the memories that stand out to me. Instead...
I remember riding my bike with my cousin for hours on end, making it from my house to hers all the way across town without ever touching my handle bars.
I remember collecting as much change we could find in and under her family's couch and pouring the change onto the counter at Casey's to purchase snacks.
I remember making prank phone calls.
I remember collecting tadpoles from the puddles by the flea market and taking them home to grow in a fish tank.
I remember laughing so hard with my friends in school that I would literally hurt.
I remember where I sat at the school lunch table.
I remember the night swims when the air was cool but the water was warm.
I remember sitting on the front porch swing with my little brother teaching him things a big sister knows and singing songs together.
I remember the walks home from school.
I remember my friends.
I know why we like to talk about our growing up years -- because those years are what shaped us, what built us. I wouldn't be the same me I am today without those experiences. I learned a lot during those years and I take those learned lessons with me every day.
I learned from the fights, how to stand up for myself and how to love even through the ugly times.
I learned how to lean on others when things got really, really hard.
I later learned to respect my parents and the limits they set on me as a young girl.
I learned to pump my own gas and take care of my belongings.
I learned to be careful with the feelings of those closest to me.
I learned that who I am is something to be proud of.
I learned that my best is good enough.
I remember riding my bike with my cousin for hours on end, making it from my house to hers all the way across town without ever touching my handle bars.
I remember collecting as much change we could find in and under her family's couch and pouring the change onto the counter at Casey's to purchase snacks.
I remember making prank phone calls.
I remember collecting tadpoles from the puddles by the flea market and taking them home to grow in a fish tank.
I remember laughing so hard with my friends in school that I would literally hurt.
I remember where I sat at the school lunch table.
I remember the night swims when the air was cool but the water was warm.
I remember sitting on the front porch swing with my little brother teaching him things a big sister knows and singing songs together.
I remember the walks home from school.
I remember my friends.
I know why we like to talk about our growing up years -- because those years are what shaped us, what built us. I wouldn't be the same me I am today without those experiences. I learned a lot during those years and I take those learned lessons with me every day.
I learned from the fights, how to stand up for myself and how to love even through the ugly times.
I learned how to lean on others when things got really, really hard.
I later learned to respect my parents and the limits they set on me as a young girl.
I learned to pump my own gas and take care of my belongings.
I learned to be careful with the feelings of those closest to me.
I learned that who I am is something to be proud of.
I learned that my best is good enough.
My hometown -- as boring, little, rundown, and old as it may seem -- will always be a part of me. I am thankful for the friends and the people in my life who were there for me, made me laugh,
and helped shape me into the woman I am proud to be today.
I made a senior video during my senior year which was played after my speech on graduation day. You can check that out here:
It's where I grew up...
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