Many people have lived in small towns, and in my experience, growing up in my tiny hometown of Davidson, North Carolina shaped me in ways I never anticipated. I was born and raised in this cute town 30 minutes outside of Charlotte with my twin brother. This town was much more than a Main Street filled with home owned restaurants and a small field outside the library. It was the place where I learned how to make snow cream and walk miles without tiring. Although I have now moved away from my hometown, I have found an increasing amount of longing for the small-town feel I was so used to.
Growing up, I always knew my neighbors. I was the only girl in my group of neighborhood friends, and all of the boys I hung out with in my neighborhood had no problem exploring the woods and getting a little dirt under their nails. Walking down to Main Street every day during the summer, saying “hi” to all of my neighbors as I trotted by, gave me the opportunity to explore my freedom while still feeling comfortable to do so. I would buy an ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s and walk up and down the quaint streets of this beautiful Carolina town.
In recognizing every street I walked down and knowing so many of my neighbors from such a young age, I was able to grow up somewhere where I could play manhunt at night and walk to Summit coffee shop to get a box turtle mocha in the morning. Walking around the roads with my friends made me feel like I owned the town. But I am sure each of my friends also felt that way because Davidson gave us all a sense of independence. In reality, we were traipsing around a safe, small town feeling like big shots. Regardless, walking around my town and making the connections I did with my neighbors made every day feel like a different adventure.
In this adorable town, I learned how to go exploring and to sled down big hills even when I felt too old to do so. I was given the opportunity to play all sports from street basketball to kick the can. All of my neighbors who had become my best friends encouraged me to run a little faster, throw a little farther, and stay up a little later.
When I moved away from Davidson, I thought I would feel like I had not experienced much outside of what I did in my small hometown. I thought I would not feel ready for bigger places when all I knew was ice cream and manhunt. But what I realized was that everything I learned from living in an area I could feel safe but also feel independent applied to my life outside of the town. I learned from a young age how to make lasting friends and how to feel okay sitting outside looking at the stars instead of the TV. I learned how to knock on doors when asking someone to hang out and how to fit three people on a sled. But most importantly, I learned how to appreciate the people I spend my time with, cherishing every conversation and invitation to play one more backyard game.
