A lot of people get mad at me when I say I can’t stand living in Oklahoma. They tell me Oklahoma is great: it has a low cost of living, nice people and there is a lot to do. I have to disagree.

Being someone who has lived in Oklahoma my entire life, I have yet to see what is so appealing about it. Yes, maybe some of the above mentioned statements are true but Oklahoma is just not my cup of tea.

I hate looking out my window and seeing the side of the house next to me. I hate driving on the long roads and seeing nothing but cattle and trees. I hate the fear I have that I will never leave this place.

People wonder how I can neglect my own state. “You’re an Oklahoman; you can never change that. You would miss it if you left.” The cliche is “home is where the heart is.” My heart is not in Oklahoma. I often wonder out of all the places in the world, why I had to be born in Oklahoma. It’s not that I’m not thankful for all I have; I have a great life — I just know there is more out there to discover and Oklahoma is not that place.

I have always been able to easily adapt to new places quickly. I love the big city feel and could easily see myself living in somewhere such as New York City, or Toronto. I want to travel all over the country, meet new and exciting people, and start my own life: not have the life someone else has started for me here. Is there really anything wrong with that?