Reflective Essay: Moving Away From The Hudson Valley

If I had to summarize the lesson I learned from my hometown, it would be that being unapologetically myself is never a bad thing. The world that grew me and shaped me was none other than the Hudson Valley. Moving away from the Hudson Valley (or the h.v. as most of my friends and I call our home) made me realize that there is no other place in the world like it. Growing up here, I was exposed to a plethora of cultures, ethnicities, religions and lifestyles, and I was always encouraged to follow my interests and do what makes me happy. The Hudson Valley accepts everyone that enters it as they are and for whom they are. Growing up, I was taught to value people because they were just that - people. Someone's religion, culture, ethnicity, etc. no matter

We were encouraged to explore our interests and talents and taught to always be happy with what we are doing. Because of this accepting attitude, my love for the Hudson Valley and for Rhinebeck only grew as I got older and began to learn of other places which were hostile towards differences among their citizens. Only upon moving away from the Hudson Valley last Fall, however, did I realize how little difference could be valued, or even how much creativity could be stifled. I never realized just how lucky I was to live an hour north of one of the most famous cities in the world, in a quaint historic Victorian town, and right next to one of the largest Holistic Institutes in the United States, Omega. Never again to I want to live in a community that discourages people from being themselves and following their dreams. I am my community’s number one fan, because I was always taught to root for the success of everyone around you, because someone else’s success is not the absence of your own. Growing up in the Hudson Valley, I learned that every person has value no matter who they are, what they are, or where they