SC Strong

Over the past week, South Carolina has been through a lot. Hurricane force winds, torrential rains, and damaging flooding ripped through our state and along with it washed away many families hopes and dreams. Many houses, and personal belongings were ruined and found to be irreplaceable. South Carolina has not seen any hurricane action since that of Hugo in the 1980's. Throughout all of this, like the Charleston shooting in June, South Carolina did not break, we did not bend, but we stood strong, stood together, and persevered.

South Carolina is notorious for many things. People like J. Strom Thurmond, Thomas Ravanel, the Charleston 9, Fort Sumter, and so many others. South Carolina has always made itself known, and never backed down from a challenge, and this week was no different.

Many people could have backed down and just walked away, started over fresh in another city, another state, another house, but so many started fresh in the same city, the same state and the same house for one reason...the people.

South Carolinians have long been known as the strongest community of people throughout the US. After the storm passed, the very next morning many people across the state headed for the "danger zones" to help rebuild lives. These people used their time off that they had accumulated for family events, vacations, and other things to help their home state family. The act of selflessness from South Carolinians is something we should all envy.

When Dylann Roof entered the Charleston church taking nine lives we could have rioted and become like one of the Northern states and cities and resorted to brutality, but we didn't. Our state was filled with prayers and love.

When Joaquin sent strong winds and rain that flooded our cities and towns, we could have given up and said oh well, but we didn't. Our state again was filled with prayers and love, and the generosity of others to help rebuild lives.

Through it all, we have seen many GoFundMe and YouCaring pages go up for donations and requests for help. So many people are able to restart their lives thanks to the help of people across this country. Still a week after the torrential rainfall, people from across the state and region have banded together bringing out donations to local businesses, churches have made meals for first responders, others have given up their spare time to go help their neighbors rebuild.

Now, I don't know about you, but do you know of any other states that has a population like this? I don't.

It's events like these that make me PROUD to be a South Carolinian. No matter what happens, or how bad it gets, we always band together with prayer and help instead of tearing apart.

I've spent 21 years here in South Carolina, and I'm growing more and more grateful for this state and its people every day. South Carolina is home, and I'm so thankful for that.

Always remember to be thankful,

Lauren.