Growing up in a tiny town always seemed to baffle people when I came to college. They would always be shocked that I graduated with only 96 kids and that we had one, maybe two, stop lights within our whole town. Everyone in my town thought living there was the absolute worst thing to ever happen to them. To me, it was one of the best places to grow up, and I would never change it for the world. Here are a few perks to growing up in a small town.

1. You never had to worry about your parents not knowing someone else's parent

Not many people get out of a small town, therefore, your friend's parents most likely went to school with your parents. So, when asking to sleep over somewhere, the statement “I don’t know their parents,” never really came into effect.

2. You had a personal bond with all of your teachers.

I always knew I could go to any one of my teachers with any problem I had. Whether it be homework or just problems with friends, they were always there to help. They knew each one of us by our first names and always made sure each need was meet educationally.

3. Never had to worry about plans on a Friday night, because there was always a football game to attend.

Everyone in the whole town would be at the stadium cheering on the team, even if they were mediocre. And after the game, there was always a party to attend in some random field somewhere.

4. You had a bond with everyone in your class.

Since there was only 96 of us, we were all friends. Maybe not the best of friends but we always stuck together, and were able to push each other through until graduation day. And even odder, we actually cared about each other’s futures.

5. Everyone in town was like family.

You could stop at the convenience store and forget your wallet, and the person behind you, whom you know, would pick up the tab. Or, if your car broke down, you were lucky enough to know the person in the car behind you, and they would help. Everyone in town pushed you towards your goals and wanted you to make something of yourself.