I grew up in a small community about twenty minutes south of Lima, Ohio, in a little place called Wapakoneta ("Wah-pah-ko-net-ah," if you were wondering how to pronounce it). Wapakoneta has a population of about 10,000. So, basically two of my towns equal the population of students attending the University of Toledo. Moving from Wapak ("Wah-pock" for short) to Toledo came with many aesthetic and cultural changes. It has been a pretty big shift for me, with lots of stumbles along the way, most of them humorous to everyone except me. Let's check out some things that separate Wapak from Toledo.

1. You can't run wherever you want.

Personally, I love to run. Running is my favorite thing to do. It relieves stress and makes me feel like I am actually good at something. That being said, back in Wapakoneta, I bounced around town like a bunny rabbit. I ran everywhere and anywhere at any time of day. I had unlimited courses mapped out in my head. So, coming to Toledo, trying to find running spots was an interesting process. First of all, I didn't know any streets here except for Dorr, Secor, and Bancroft. The first time I ran on Bancroft I just assumed the sidewalk would continue on. When it finally stopped, I thought no big deal, I'll just run on the side of the road. After dodging several cars, receiving many inappropriate hand gestures and getting honked at, I decided to just stick to a few key locations. Lesson learned.

2. Not everyone is the same.

Growing up in Wapakoneta also meant that I saw the world as 99 percent Caucasian soccer moms and dads with business jobs: The typical white experience. That's a joke, but in all honesty I just was not used to such a diverse community. Coming to Toledo, I experienced not just an African American culture, but also an Arab culture. Living with people so different from myself in dorm rooms and class rooms widened my eyes to the vast array of cultures in the world and made me a more open-minded individual.

3. Who are you people?

I graduated with 207 other kids. I knew every one of their names and the life story of most. The same for anyone a grade above or below me. I called teachers by their first names (and subsequently was punished for it). If something happened to one person at school, I knew about it by first mod the next day (you had periods, we had "mods," I don't get it either). Coming to Toledo, I know about 100 people. That means there are still around 19,000 I don't know and that's just students. Sitting in class is no longer a social event. Many of my classes I attend, I could sit next to someone a whole semester and not find out one thing about them. This is also because I'm dangerously awkward, but that's a different story.

4. So many choices.

Back in my hometown, if you wanted to go out and eat at a nice restaurant, you drove 20 minutes north or south. If you wanted to stay local, it was either McDonalds or Taco Bell. Bob Evans to me was like wherever Jay-Z and Beyonce go on date night. In Toledo, I truly could gain 400 pounds. Right down the road is Pita Pit, Chipotle, Five Guys, Jamba Juice, Oasis, Marco's, Little Caesars, Applebees, Max n Erma's; I could go on and on, plus all the dining halls on campus. Some days it's a real struggle trying to decide what to eat.

Overall, I still love my hometown. There are so many memories, both amazing and awful, that I love coming home and reminiscing about. But, I also love Toledo. It's my home away from home, the place that will ultimately take me to adulthood. Toledo has taught me how to study, how to party, and how to pay bills: All great experiences. Thank you Wapak for the childhood, thank you Toledo for teaching me what it means to grow up.