It is so interesting to hear where close friends and classmates grew up and how it differs from where they are now. It is so cool that even Charleston, a relatively small city, can contain so much diversity from people who have come from all over.

Even though I have lived in South Carolina my whole life, the small city feeling I get here in Charleston is still new to me. I grew up in Pendleton, South Carolina which is a very small town and a much quieter area compared to Charleston. In a town like this, everyone knew everyone.

Most of my close friends and family friends went to the same church every Sunday, a church I grew up in and went to my whole life. The most interesting thing about growing up in a small town is that everyone seems to do and enjoy the same exact things. It seemed like everyone played football or baseball, everyone went to church, and I saw the same people every single day.

At the time I never really realized it because I was so young and just did what everyone else did. Looking back on everything now, it is interesting to analyze and compare how I live now and how much that town has affected me.

The most important thing I have learned and realized is that it is okay to be a little different or unique. It is okay to leave home and go somewhere new and exciting, even if it is only a few hours away. It is refreshing to meet people and create bonds with those who open up a new perspective and conversation.

Those who have different beliefs or ways of life have become some of the most important people in my life. Growing up, I saw that it was comfortable and common to stay close to those who thought the same way and did the same things. I love that now I go to a school and live in a city that offers so much diversity and opportunity.

This allows me to step outside of my comfort zone and become inspired in ways I never have before. As much as I have changed and grown since living in a small town, I still wouldn’t change the fact that I did. The things I saw and learned growing up are still at the core of what I believe and love, and those things continue to pull me back and keep me grounded. I am still learning and changing in this new environment every day.

However, I am also learning how important it is to keep my family as close as possible and to always remember where I come from.