8 Signs You Grew Up In A Small Midwest Town
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Student Life

8 Signs You Grew Up In A Small Midwest Town

Summer: beach, work, bonfires, repeat

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8 Signs You Grew Up In A Small Midwest Town
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I am from a small town smack dab in the middle of Northern Michigan called Roscommon. The most famous part of my town is Higgins Lake, dubbed the 7th most beautiful lake in the world. I love every bit of small town living.

1. Long Drives

The closest mall is an hour away. The only fast food places are McDonald's and Subway. In my town, everyone is prepared to drive far away to eat anywhere cool or to even shop at Meijer. But, I like this about small towns. Yeah, I have to drive a lot and for a while, but I am typically with friends. This means more memories and songs on the AUX. Also, it saves me money by not having access to malls!

2. Iconic trips to Walmart

This is a must if you live in a small town. Chances are there is probably a Walmart within 15 minutes of you. Whenever we are bored, my friends and I always hop in the car and head to Walmart to just mess around. I couldn't tell you how many hours I have spent in that store. Slurpee runs are also a go-to for my crew, so catch us leaving at midnight to the gas station!

3. Work and the beach

Alexis Stachurski

In the summer, all my friends do is work and go to the beach. We have two state parks right on the lake, so my friends and I are constantly down to get some sun in before we have to work. Of course, we live in a tourist area so most of us work at ice cream shops.

4. Barren wasteland in the winter

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Once Labor Day is over, so is the fun (for the most part). If you don't like winter activities; like ice fishing, snowmobiling, and skiing, then Roscommon is the wrong place for you. The only tourism we get is on the weekends, but we do have Winterfest and Tip-Up Town, and those bring in a lot of people.

5. Knowing EVERYONE

A simple trip to the grocery store turns into 5 different conversations. I am ALWAYS running into people I know from home. This can be annoying sometimes, but other times it's nice.

6. Friday Night Lights

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My town LOVES football. Especially our rivalry game. The stands are always packed and our football team has actually been good. We've had district and regional home games, which rack in a ton of people. Even alums come home, so it's a great time to catch up during the semester away from home.

7. You cant't wait to leave

Since high school started, I couldn't wait to graduate and come to school in a big city.

8. But still miss it

Now that I am in college, I do miss the small town atmosphere. I think I might come back here after being away for a while. It's a really nice community and the lake is iconic.

If you live in a small midwest town, please love it. These big cities are not better.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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