Growing up in a small town, things are very different.

Everyone knows everyone and your business is everyone else's business. While this aspect never really bothered me, I always knew it was prominent. Some people hate this, but I kind of like knowing everyone's business, yes nosey me, and people knowing mine, well most of it.

Not only did I grow up in a small town, I grew up in a small "country" town. Farm fields, cows, living thirty minutes from the nearest grocery store or mall, tractor day at school, the whole sha-bang. Wearing cowboy boots and camo dresses to prom was a natural thing, too. Although it wasn't my scene (even when I tried to make it be to fit in), it's something big in my town. Country music, bonfires, beer, horses, everything people love about a small town, my town has. But, I always knew there was more out there in the world for me to explore and where I could find my place.

In school, graduating with around 90 people was pretty big; normally it's 30-60 students. I loved knowing all of my classmates and having some sort of relationship with them all. But, I wanted something more. I packed my bags and moved to a university set in a city with a population of about 50,000 people. Keep in mind, I lived in a town with a population of 1,500, so this was a huge change. At first, I was intimidated, but as I learned the ropes of city living, I couldn't help but only imagine myself living in the future in that setting instead of my small town. The city has so much to offer as far as entertainment, job opportunity (and salaries), and privacy (something I had never experienced), and a need for younger generations to make their mark.

After I moved there, I was hooked.

I never wanted to leave and going home for the summer was so hard for me. Once I moved back, I was constantly bored. I can't up and walk to the nearest frozen yogurt shop or take a 2-minute drive to Aldi's, I have to travel so far for any entertainment! I beg my parents all the time to just move closer to our nearest city because being in this small town suffocated by everything and nothing at the same time is actually draining. I love being close to family and knowing my neighbors and letting my dog run freely, but it's just not cutting it anymore. Small town living is not for me.

I am now a "city" living type of girl and I don't think I'll ever come back. It's my happy place and my new home.

My roots and family are in my small town, but this place is no longer my "home." Home isn't always where the heart is and I can't wait for this new chapter of my life.