I had no idea what to expect when coming to Starkville, Mississippi from the greatly populated Atlanta, Georgia. My friends would tease that I would come back singing country music with a heavy accent, or that I would start wearing camo as legitimate fashion. However, there are several misconceptions about a college town in a southern area that I know I have learned to correct in my head.
1. Not everyone is conservative or closed-minded.
I had an irrational fear in coming here that I would have no friends because everyone would be homophobic, xenophobic, overly-religious, racist, ignorant, and/or intolerant. Although there are people like this in Mississippi (or the south in general), there is a great amount of people who are actually quite progressive or even active in movements for equality and other human rights. For example, Ole Miss (not my school, but still in MS) is working on cannabis research to study their effects, both beneficial and harmful.
2. It's whom you're with, not always what you're doing.
Let's be honest: Starkville is not the most exciting place on Earth; however, it is a college town, and it supplies minor elements to entertain those attending the school. There a few coffee shops, some restaurants and bars, and some beautiful spaces right outside campus for walking trails. I personally think it is more of a blessing that there isn't a lot of activities to do because I know I'd get distracted and not get as much done. The weekend nights are always filled with close friends, dancing, games, and good talk. Plus Thursday through Saturday nights usually have deals at the local bars to help out us poor college kids. There are also some cool places like New Orleans or Gulfport that make for fun weekend trips. As long as you find ways to get involved, and make friends in doing so, it's not too difficult to make a good time out of a little town.
3. It is totally OK to get home sick.
I think this is more so me just comforting myself as I type this because I don't like to get upset over the little things. I miss my family, my hometown friends, seeing the skyline off Jackson Street bridge downtown, city markets, diverse culture, riding the belt line, bubble tea, and the music scene. I will usually never say I "moved" to Mississippi because it is not home to me. All of what I just listed makes Atlanta my home, and being away from it for months at the time only make me appreciate it more.
4. Confidence is key.
I have met hundreds of people at this school. Some from band, some from architecture, some from parties, and some at the gym. I have had to be many different things for each situation; however the main thing was just being myself. I felt more out of place sometimes in the suburban hell of East Cobb than in Starkville simply because I felt I had to fake being who I was to fit a certain stigma of intelligence there. In Starkville, I had dyed my hair, opened up more about my sexuality, and have attempted to be even more outgoing so I could meet more people. Honestly, you can be whatever you want to be as long as you hold your shoulders back and present yourself well.
5. The wind here is absolutely horrible.
My umbrella has broken in three different spots and just know that if you want a good hair day, only expect it to stay a good hair day if you a) stay inside or b) your day is about 15 minutes long. That is all.
