Dear world,

When I adventure to bigger places, please know that I grew up in a small town. No, not your "small" town of 100,000 people. I mean about 250 adults and kids in a few houses thrown across a couple dirt roads. I mean no stoplights, just a couple four-way stops that many people roll through. I mean actually asking your neighbor for sugar or flour because the store is 20 miles away and you already started mixing your bread dough. What I mean is, you might not understand where I came from.

Let's be clear though: I grew in many small towns. The first wasn't a town, it was an abundance of fields in western Nebraska, what some might call "out in the boondocks." I played with dirt and corncobs, and some random tools like a wrench when I could get my hands on them. I didn't fear being dirty, and I could take something apart to rebuild it by the age of 5. I was scolded for taking the irrigation tubes out right after setting them because I wanted to be an elephant. I took long, barefoot walks on dirt roads to get home.

I spent time there, growing, and in the surrounding towns--a couple of which were connected and had a combined population of about 20,000 people and seemed huge to me. Then I moved to the real small town: Peetz, Colorado.

In Peetz, I learned to love some aspects of small town life. I learned to love being able to "run a town" (a lap around the perimeter, equaling about a mile). I learned to love late night walks up and down the streets with my friends--and then I learned to love late night drives up and down back roads. I learned to love that I knew my friend's extended families and that I had somewhere to go at anytime.

But I didn't learn much about you, world. I had to leave the small town to learn that I am very small. I am one in about seven billion--not one in 250. And then I learned that I may be small, but it only takes one person to enact change.

In high school, I was often asked (or told) to apply to Harvard and Yale and other "bigger and better" colleges. I was frequently told that people expected me to become rich and/or famous because I worked hard. Many people expected me to become a doctor or lawyer or internationally-known-something. That was a lot of pressure.

I've now spent almost two years out of high school, worrying about being "bigger and better." But you know what, world? You've shown me that I don't need to be the biggest or best, or rich and famous. You've shown me that I need to care enough to try, to help one person at a time, and to take care of myself better so I can take care of others.

This is me thanking you, world--each person I've met while exploring, switching jobs, and attending college. This is me thanking you, world--each place that has taken a piece of my heart, that is calling my name, and that will be added to the "places I've been list" in due time. This is me thanking you, world--for letting me leave the small town to grow with you.

With love,

A small town girl