If the first reaction you had after reading the title of this article was "what's a Highland," it's perfectly normal. Few things are more frustrating that having to explain to all your new college classmates where you come from when you come from a small town. Living in Michigan gives me the unique advantage of using the “hand map” to describe where I live, but people still want to know more about the itty-bitty town that made me the near-adult I am today. Consider it a cultural guide to Highland if you ever get horribly lost on M-69.
1. High school rivalries are no big deal, here, unless you like football.
The division you see here is insane. The homecoming dances I used to go to always fell on the same day of the big match between the two high schools. Huge pep rallies marked the occasion and for a day, all the players became celebrities. You pick one side or the other, just like State and Michigan. On that day, you’re either an Eagle or a Maverick. Guess which side I’m on?
2. We are in the middle of nowhere, and that’s cool.
There is nothing but trees for miles around us and we’re fine with that. They offer a lot of privacy and protection from the noise of the freeway surrounding our hilly town. My dad and I go running through these forests because we like how much shading they give us. It’s one of the reasons I prefer farms and grassy fields to cities; you can never get nature out of your bones.
3. Almost everyone here is Catholic.
The reason a lot of people that live here are Catholic is probably due to the lack of other religious institutions in the area. I have no doubt that our community would be highly receptive of a new synagogue, mosque, or other worship sites, seeing how most of us are very quiet and considerate in nature. However, this has yet to be demonstrated. I think many of us would also like to see more diversity. Till then, though, we'll be happy maintaining what we currently have.
4. Friends are for life.
Once we make friendships, those bonds last forever. Just like here at this small college--you realize quickly that the people around you are all that you have. We know that the bonds we make are very special and that they sometimes help you in unexpected ways. When we need somebody to pick up our kids from school, for instance, or help us fix our cars and bikes, or help us with family problems, or deal with a disastrous situation, that’s when we see those bonds manifest.
In fact, I still see my old middle school friends at my sister’s school plays. We still cheer each other on (even if it’s only on Facebook!) when we have successes and comfort each other when we’re sad. It’s true, there is nothing quite like the bonds you make in your small town.
