I grew up in Stillwater, Oklahoma–home of the Oklahoma State Cowboys. I thought it was normal to devote one day a week to football and tailgaiting, to know exactly where you wanted to go to college when you were older, and to live in a town full of young adults -- half of the time. I wouldn’t trade my hometown for the world, and if you lived in a college town like me, you probably understand these things:
1. Going to games and events for fun.
Free admission at a basketball game? The Fashion Merchandising department was putting on a free fashion show? You and your friends would always be at these type of events due to there not being much else to do in your town.
2. The entire town stops for home football games.
While most permanent residents of your town make a point to support all the sports, nothing is quite like a home gameday in a college town. It’s not unusual for your town’s population to nearly double in size- and don’t even think about trying to go to any popular restaurants.
3. How empty it gets around breaks.
The stark contrast of a busy Saturday in the fall to a Tuesday in the middle of December is undeniable. Because such a large majority of your town’s population are students, when they leave it may resemble a ghost town; however, it’s nice to have it all to yourself and you’ll find the locals cracking jokes about how all of the “crazy” drivers are gone.
4. Restaurants and businesses aimed towards students’ likes.
Beer and pizza, a college student’s two favorite things. Because of this, your town probably has a ton of bars and pizzerias. Also, a lot coffee shops for studying and clothing boutiques perfect for sorority girls.
5. Most of your friends' parents moved here for the university.
Whether they went to school here and never left, or they came for a job as a coach or professor, most jobs in college towns revolve around the university.
6. The blurred line between the college’s students and your high school classmates.
Thanks to great programs like concurrent enrollment, you had opportunities to attend college classes while still in high school. You and your friends would sometimes get outfit inspiration based on what the students were wearing. Also, there were always those few high schoolers who would go to college parties. Whatever it was, there were a lot of opportunities for people your age to get mixed up with the students.
7. You’ll always love your town’s university.
Whether you ending up attending it or not, there will always be a special place in your heart for the university you grew up around.
