Palm trees and parties may make Arizona State University an oasis for college students in the desert, but home is where the heart is.
Originally from Columbus, Ohio, ASU sophomore Alan Deutschendorf came to the Valley of the Sun to pursue his dream of being on sports radio. Deutschendorf has nothing but positive things to say about Phoenix and his university but the Buckeye’s story echoes a key fact of life: you can’t forget your hometown.
“Everybody’s just so friendly,” Deutschendorf said. “It kind of has that Midwest feel inside of a big city. It’s a nice mix of both, and is just familiar, too.”
Most would surely overlook Columbus, Ohio as yet another city in the Midwest state. Outside of the Buckeye State, the names Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati swirl together into Middle America known for sprawl and suburbia. That’s not how Deutschendorf sees it and not how anyone should.
The hometown kid sees Columbus, Ohio as a city on the rise. He said construction cranes are strewn about downtown as newcomers descend on Ohio’s capitol as a city known for Ohio State Buckeye football that has breathed life into its professional teams with new stadiums.
“I do know a lot of people there, and it’s really growing fast,” Deutschendorf said. “Columbus is developing nicely and the sports market has just taken off in the past couple of years.”
His story parallels that of many kids growing up in flyover states. I’m from Kansas City, Missouri, which is often believed to be next door in Kansas. We aren’t Chicago, we aren’t Los Angeles and we surely aren’t New York. Nevertheless, my city is a fantastic place I’m proud to call home. My city shaped me into who I am today and pushed me into journalism.
Deutschendorf’s story is similar. He grew up in a tight-knit neighborhood where he hung out with his family and dads on the street. He said watching games with neighbors put him “on the sports grind early because they obviously were very active with their sports watching.” Deutschendorf may have never gone to ASU’s Cronkite School or found his calling without those neighborhood dads.
Deutschendorf’s story echoes the importance of family and community. Sure, Phoenix has palm trees, mountains and perfect winter weather. Sure, Columbus, Ohio has a lot of cold winters and a football team that loses to Michigan. Yet, family and a sense of belonging are hard to replicate far from home.
My story is like that of Deutschendorf. Growing up in Missouri, my friends and I always dreamed about moving away to cooler places. Now, I don’t feel that way. My hometown calls me back as the harsh realization that time with loved ones is constantly slipping away sets in.
New cities can surely become someone’s home away from home but at the end of the day, a person can’t escape their upbringing. A person’s hometown will always be where they learned to ride a bike, read and write and where so many other core memories took place. There is no place like home.
Everyone needs to reflect on their hometowns. Whether good or bad, reflecting on your relationship with your hometown and family is a crucial part of the mental health journey. Staring down a great upbringing or a tough one allows a person to acknowledge where they come from and how far they’ve come.
Deutschendorf’s time in Phoenix could land him a job far from home. Journalists like him often need to take whatever opportunity comes their way to get ahead. That reality may take Deutschendorf to Boston or Los Angeles, but this Buckeye’s heart will surely be at home.
As the world becomes more divided, consider the sense of community and belonging that radiates through your hometown. Take pride in your town and tell the world about your unique upbringing.
Hometowns are unique and incredibly special to each person for many different reasons. People should embrace that reality for all the good and bad the city name carries. Deutschendorf wouldn’t be the same without his hometown and all of us can say the same.
