Illinois

I've lived in Illinois for the vast majority of my life. Sure I've visited plenty of other states and have been outside the country a few times, but Illinois is my one true home. I really love my home state, but I'm not naïve. I know that Illinois has its fair share of problems just like any other state. Yes it has a substantial problem with crime, taxes, and debt but I feel that it's wrong for outsiders to think that that's all my state is. Illinois is so much more than crime and crooked politicians. It's home to the third largest city in the country, Chicago, which I also have a lot of experience with. I'm currently in a relationship with a woman who lives in the city so I'm there pretty frequently. Chicago is an amazing place where there is always something going on, but it's not all that Illinois has to offer. I feel that all the other cities and towns in the state get overlooked, which is a little frustrating because they have so much to offer. As a man who was born and raised in Rockford, the third largest city in the state, I can say from experience that Illinois is so much more than just Chicago. Rockford has a bustling art scene, a strong knit community, a huge music scene (obviously Cheap Trick is from Rockford) and all sorts of events going on in the newly renovated down town area. I also spent a fair amount of my life in Dekalb since I attended Northern Illinois University, and, although it's a very small town, it has a quaint and unique feel to it. Pretty much all of the "townies" know each other and, seeing as I lived there for five years, I run into people I knew from school every time I pass through. It's true, the job market in Illinois is rough, which is why, although I work in Beloit, I'm looking for work in or near Chicago. For a writer, there are just so many more opportunities in the city that just aren't available in the smaller cities and towns around the state. That's not to say I don't have love for my hometown, Rockford will always be a part of me no matter where my professional career takes me. Illinois is an amazing state, and I feel that too many people from other states have misconceptions about it and don't even know about all of the good things that the state has to offer. Love it or hate it, Illinois is home to multiple millions of people and will continue to play a prominent role on the national scene.