The world is huge, and chances are that most of us have hardly seen any of it. Instead, we're stuck in tiny college towns, wondering why we even chose this school when there are a million other colleges in really diverse, awesome cities that we could have attended.
I can relate. I felt suffocated by my hometown. We literally called it "The Bubble." And now, I sometimes feel suffocated by my college town. I mean, a little town in Oklahoma that's an hour away from any large city is a disaster for a girl who's making plans to live in New York City after graduation. I get feeling like there is nothing to do and no one to see. I get feeling like everyone is the same and that you'll actually go insane because there's not more than one coffee shop to choose from in the morning. I get feeling like you're going mad because you sort of already know everyone in the town and just wish that there was a little more culture. I get it all.
And as I've struggled with why I chose the college I did considering how small of a town it resides in, I've had to deal with whether I love the decision or horribly regret it. And I'm here to tell you that, if anything, you should hold on tight to the little town you feel suffocated by.
No, it may not have a Target. No, it may not have more than a Starbucks. No, it may not hold any large concert venues or juice bars or record shops. But I bet you it holds some really great people and some even better memories. The nice thing about little towns is that although they may not be very exciting, they sure can feel like home. You don't have to worry about constantly getting lost or being run over as you cross the street. You get to focus on the people around you and make the best out of what you have. You get to spend time having conversations with people and getting to know them well because all you can do is sit and talk. You get to make wholesome memories by being creative with what you can do for a whole weekend. You get to love the people around you, be loved, and find joy and value in the little things.
I've been convinced for the longest time that I've been missing out on living in a big city, but the truth is that I'm terrified to eventually make the move somewhere incredible. Yes, I want to live in New York, and, yes, I will do it no matter what. But when I think about the difference between living in the city and living in Oklahoma, I know I have to hold on tight to the time I have now. I can't wait for the day when I can see the Empire State Building on my way to work, but I'm also going to terribly miss the 45 mph speed limits on dirt roads. I can't wait for when I have a usual cafe that knows my name and my coffee order, but I'm also going to miss the ability to be with all of my friends after just a five-minute walk. I can't wait for when I don't smell cow manure during the late hours of the night, but I'm also going to terribly miss the small town charm of a one-street downtown.
Sure, the future looks exciting. But for us hopeful city-dwellers and go-getters, this time in our lives won't ever be replicated. We will probably never spend years in a small town again, and it's something we have to appreciate now. Appreciate the silence of no cars honking as they drive. Appreciate the warmth of strangers as they open up doors for you and smile in passing. Appreciate the people you have around you and that, during this time, you get to wholeheartedly focus on relationships. Because relationships are what sustain us and refine us and teach us. And even though we want to live in a city with thousands of other people, we might find that these relationships in a middle of nowhere town can't ever be topped.
Don't let your hopeful dreams of city life take away from this small, back road town you've got in your hands now. Appreciate its charm, and hold on tight while you can. Soon, you won't remember what cow manure smells like, and you might be overwhelmed with how many coffee shops you have to choose from.
