I spent almost all my childhood growing up in the hustle and bustle of midtown Atlanta. I grew up a mere 5-minute walk from Piedmont Park in one direction and a 15-20-minute walk to Virginia Highlands in the other.

To be honest, I loved it. I loved being so close to everything and having the world at my fingertips. However, I didn’t realize how much I took living in the middle of the biggest city of the south for granted until I came to college; where the closest target is a 45-minute drive away.

Here is a list of things I now realize I took for granted living in a city:

1. The convenience of shopping

I had the ability to choose between three different Targets all within a 15-minute drive in Atlanta. I never realized how much I appreciated being so close to everything until I came to college and realized that I must now plan out my entire day if I want to go run errands because it requires a minimum of an hour of driving just to get somewhere and back again. Back home, I would easily spend more time in the store than in the car, even if I was only grabbing one thing from the grocery store.

2. Being able to walk to multiple food options

I used to be able to walk to ten or so different restaurants from my house for a meal. Although I can walk everywhere around my college campus, I miss the accessibility to a community separate from my own neighborhood.

3. Easy access to cultural/ community attractions

Community festivals were always happening whether it be a summer festival to celebrate the end of the school year or art festivals full of amazing pieces of art and food; it seemed like there was always something new and fun to do every weekend.

4. Movie sets were always happening

It seems like more and more producers are picking Atlanta as a site to film. This in turn means there are more opportunities to see celebrities such as Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumberbatch in person! Although this does come with some disadvantages. For example, an old church near my high school was used multiple times in “Devious Maids” one year. This meant that whenever filming was occurring, it was next to impossible to make it to school on time. Above is a photo I took this past summer when Marvel was filming nearby.

5. The Restaurant Scene

Unlike the one or two non-southern comfort food restaurants nearby my college, a big city hosts an array of food from a range of ethnicities available everywhere you look. What you are craving is only a few minutes away.

6. Still being relatively close to nature

Even though you are in the middle of the city, you can typically still reach a bunch of different places to hike with a short drive.

7. Concerts happening all the time

Being one of the bigger cities in the south, Atlanta is typically where the big-name artists come to perform. If you live in a big city, like Atlanta or Boston, you don’t have to waste an entire day with travel; instead you can get prepared in your own house and get back home at a reasonable hour. In college, most people end up driving to the closest big city for concerts which might require +/- 8 hours of driving round-trip!

8. Being able to see the skyline and the views in general

I mean, who would turn down this view on your daily drive to school?

9. Separate neighborhoods with different vibes

Atlanta is made up of a multitude of different neighborhoods all with their own energy/atmosphere. I miss being able to go to different neighborhoods to get different types of food or shops. Those from Atlanta know how different neighborhoods like Little Five Points and Atlantic Station are.

10. A different kind of southern charm

Unlike many other southern cities, Atlanta hosts a different type of "southern charm" in the form of street art. Personally, I am a big fan of street art because it allows others to share their voices and opinions in a public setting.

In conclusion, I love the big city culture that exists in major cities all over the world. It brings me comfort to be in the middle of the craziness of a city surrounded by hundreds of people going along their day. Growing up all I wanted to do was get out of the south; since starting college, I have realized how much I miss being in the middle of a major city such as Atlanta.