Western Nebraska is the place that I will always call home. I am from a single-stoplight, one-horse town where the cornfields are vast and the population is not. Six hundred people – give or take a few – inhabit the tiny town. Everybody knows who I am, and I know everybody else. That’s just the way it is. And you know what? I wouldn’t change that for the world.
Although growing up in such a small community meant that nothing was a secret, it also meant that nothing was unsafe. Doors remain unlocked, keys remain in cars, and children are allowed to travel the 10 minute walk to the opposite end of town without parental supervision because let’s be real, the entire town is watching. While part of me resented the fact that I would never be able to host a rager on the weekends while the parental units were out of town, the other part was completely comforted by the fact that I had an entire community looking out for my well being. Even if secrets were unsafe in small town USA, I was not.
Growing up in such a close-knit community meant that friends were not hard to come by. After all, if you weren’t friends with the 20 other students in your class, who were you going to be friends with? Fortunately, I was blessed with an amazing group of peers. It has been three years since each of us has gone our separate ways, and yet, our friendships are steadfast. On the special occasions that the gang is reunited, it’s as if nothing has changed – it’s like coming home. I am so grateful for the home that I was blessed with. More so, I am grateful for the county lines that welcome me back even though I was dying to leave.
And it’s true. I wanted to leave small town Nebraska – but I was torn. Some days I could not think of anything that I wanted more than to leave Nebraska. Other days, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I was torn between where I was and where I wanted to be -- who I was and who I wanted to be. While I was happy growing up, I was constantly searching for more. I would look around and see dozens of individuals living perfectly contented lives, but I didn’t want to be content. I wanted – I still want – adventure. As previously stated, small town Nebraska was safe. It wasn’t an adventure. I wanted to leave and explore the world, but more than that, I wanted to find myself. I wanted to discover who I truly was without family and friends influencing me. I chose to leave small town USA, but I remained in Nebraska.
I am comfortable where I am, and I am happy. I have gained so much experience in a new setting. I have traveled far and wide across the United States. I have discovered a variety of new organizations to lend my services to. I have made wonderful new friends. Above all, I have discovered more of myself. I have come to the realization that life in itself is an adventure and I am ready and willing to face each new endeavor as it comes. I have also decided that I will never stop adventuring. Growing up in small town Nebraska instilled in me a permanent desire to explore. From exploring the country roads of home to exploring the streets of Los Angeles, I have come to see that adventure is everywhere. While I fully intend to travel as much as possible and experience many new adventures, I will forever be grateful for the experiences I gained in small town USA. Such memories could never be replaced by any adventure. From the embrace of a childhood friend to the incomparable beauty of a Nebraska sunset, small town USA has its bonuses – irreplaceable, wonderful bonuses. Even if life takes me far from home, I will always hold those memories dear. No matter how far adventure takes me, my heart will forever remain in Nebraska.
