When I was younger, I never understood how beautiful my state was. My mind was polluted by the internet, where people would constantly hate on West Virginia for a plethora of reasons. As I grew into the person I am today, my love for West Virginia grew too. From the beautiful mountain scenery to the loving, close-knit communities, West Virginia has changed my view of the world. I grew up in Fayette County, which is notorious for the New River Gorge. That national park is what truly made me appreciate how beautiful West Virginia truly is. If you’ve lived in Fayette County, specifically in Fayetteville, then you would know that it is ill-advised to travel during bridge day. Due to that, I never actually went to the New River Gorge myself until I got into high school. I vividly remember a field trip in my junior year where we walked the paths at the park. Although it was strenuous, the views made everything worthwhile. That field trip sparked a love for hiking, which I now do with my cousin and her husband. That event also made me grateful for the fact that I live in West Virginia and not some state where everywhere you go is a big city or urban housing. Now, every time I’m on the road, I look at our trees and mountains with an ever-growing fondness. One of the most defining aspects of West Virginia is the communities around you. Practically everyone knows each other and always reaches out a hand for support. Once, when I was younger, a horrible snowstorm hit, and our power went out. It was awful, and at that time, I lived with my grandmother. I’m pretty scrawny, and my grandmother is legally disabled, so we had no one at the time to help us move our generator from our garage to where it needed to be. So, I marched up the nearby hill and asked my neighbor if he could help move it and start it. There were no questions asked; the man rode down to our house on a four-wheeler and helped me set it up. That instance was one of the many times my community has looked out for my family. Ultimately, living in West Virginia and the memories I have from living here make me incredibly grateful that I got a chance to live and grow in this wild and wonderful state. I know, for a fact, that if I had been raised anywhere else, I would not be the same person I am today. Around me, my peers often talk about leaving the state behind, wanting to go somewhere bigger. All I can do is hope that one day they, too, will realize that West Virginia is far more extraordinary than they give it credit for.