Going to a small high school in the rural area isn't as boring as media makes it seem. We also aren't hillbillies like the movies portray. Instead, the rural schools are just like other schools but with fewer people and way smaller class sizes. No matter the time, you still put everything forth for your high school. Size doesn't matter.
1. Everyone knew everyone/everything
A great basis about small town schools is that you have the pleasure to know everyone. No matter where you go, a friendly face will be in the hallway for you to exchange a friendly hello with. You will always have a friend in your classes for the upcoming year due to the small amount of students that actually attend your school. It’s hard to keep a secret in a small school because the second you tell one person the news spreads like wildfire. No matter where you go, everyone is going to talk to everyone else. It’s beneficial for figuring out the difficulty of tests and pop quizzes but can get you into trouble when it comes to gossip.
2. You had the same best friends since elementary school
They have been by your side since you were little and stayed there through the awkward ages. They know everything and you couldn’t be happier to have them.
3. You played every sport and participated in every extracurricular
The same people were always your teammates because everyone had to participate in order for there to be a team. You never had a rest from school because you always had practice after school and, when you went into summer vacation, everyone could find you at the weight room preparing for the next year. Sometimes schedules intersect but coaches and teachers would understand.
4. You played the same people every year in every sport
Traveling to away games wasn’t that exciting due to the fact that you’d already been there a 100 times and played the same team/same athletes. You already know their plays and they know yours so at times you know their exact moves, but they know yours.
5. Your Friday nights were spent at the football games
Even if your team sucked. Friday night was for football and nothing else. It was a rule. You were out there in those bleachers cheering till you no longer had a voice.
6. You were friends with the people from the surrounding towns
Sometimes playing these people in sports lead to laughing outbursts and long talks afterwards, but it was the main goal to beat them in any competition.
7. You teachers knew everything about you
Going to a small school meant that your teachers knew everything about you because they were anticipating for the day you’d be in their class. They knew who the troublemakers were and who the "smarty pants" were going to be. The good ones knew what you were going to do before you did it. They always seemed to be one step ahead of you.
8. Some of your teachers taught your parents
A rural community tends to keep it’s favorites in the works. Some of your teachers taught your parents when they were in high school. Yes, that means you attended the same high school as your mom or dad. These teachers were always the best though.
9. Your classmates were the people you went to kindergarten with
You’ve been in the same classes with the same people for 13 years. These were your people.
10. You graduated with less than 35 people in your class
Franklin High Schools class of 2014: 22 people
11. You still appreciate everything your rural high school did for you
You may say you hated every second of it but there were so many life lessons that came out of that place. You will forever be thankful for everything that you experienced in high school, the people, the opportunities, and the family that will always remain.
