Of course everyone graduates high school and immediately starts planning how to escape to this unseen land called “Freedom,” but you can still find your freedom even in your medium-sized hometown. I promise you, moving to a college as far away from your parents as you can possibly get will not give you any more independence than you would by going to college in your hometown. There are actually many perks of going to one of the universities here in your hometown of Abilene.

1. The local scholarships

We can all agree that earning scholarships is a crucial part of being a college student, and competing for national scholarships is not exactly the easiest thing in the world. Going to college locally just gives you better opportunities to knock off some of that tuition. Hardin-Simmons University even offers a scholarship that pays for 40% tuition if you graduated in one of the 24 nearby counties that are known as “The Big Country.”

2. You save gas and time

Let’s be honest. Not all of us college students can afford to spend money or time driving 5 hours to visit our parents every other weekend. I love the fact that I can easily drive home whenever I start missing my mom’s home cooked meals or my dad’s jokes. Besides, Abilene doesn't have unbearable traffic jams every morning and afternoon, and you can even drive across town in 20 minutes.

3. You can be your new friends' tour guide

You’ll make friends easily in college because you know where all the good restaurants are and you can show everyone that there are actually fun things to do in Abilene. Even if no one has heard of the best burritos from La Popular or Play Faire Park, the vintage mini golf place that’s hidden on the north side of town, you can show everyone how great the unknown treasures of Abilene are.

4. You'll be less nervous when you start college

No matter what you’ll be nervous on move-in day, but at least you’ll still be home. Well… sort of. You won't have to worry about finding the nearest Walmart when you realize you forgot to pack your toothbrush because you already know how to get there. Going to one of the universities in your hometown of Abilene is far less scary than going to one that’s in a different city. Or worse, a different state.

5.You probably already know some of the other college students

Odds are that several people you went to high school with are also going to college in town. Even if you weren’t friends with all of them in high school it’s nice to see a familiar face when you’re starting college. Who knows, your high school acquaintance could end up to be your college bestie.