Growing up in a small town has its perks and set backs. A set back being that the nearest grocery store and Target was at least 20 minutes away. But other than that, I’m thankful for everything this small town has to offer.
Being from a small town, I’m used to those cliché things like everybody knowing your name and feeling so far from “civilization”. It’s the type of town that when people ask you where you come from, you say the nearest big town because where you live is so small. It’s where our idea of fun is swinging off a sketchy rope swing into a river or driving down a back road in the middle of the night blasting your favorite songs. All of the best memories were made within the small borders of that town with the name no one has heard of.
The perks of growing up in a small town are endless. You always know you have a friend somewhere, because you grew up with every kid in that town and have gone to school with them for years. Traffic is never an issue, unless you get stuck behind a tractor, which is a known problem in my town. You can count on everyone, young and old, to support the high school football team on Friday nights. Little restaurants and diners know you by name due to the amount of times you’ve gone there. There are known spots throughout the town that everyone goes to hang out. I could go on, but you probably get the point.
Being contained here for most of your life may sound incredibly boring, but it can teach you things you wouldn’t believe. Because I’ve lived in a small, rural town my whole life, it has given me courage and curiosity. I haven’t seen much in this world, and this small town has made me want to leave and see more of it. The courage to leave the comfort of home, and the curiosity to see what else is out there. Living in the same town for so long has made me want to go away for school, and want to go even further away as soon as I can. But this town is also my safety net, because I know I will always find a home here.
All of the open space in this beautiful country side is a hidden gem in my state, and I am proud to have grown up there. I find that when I’m away, I miss it terribly. But once you’re there for a while, you want to get out and see new things. That’s what’s great about growing up in a small town. No matter where you go in life, your small hometown will always be there for you when you need it.
