Going to high school in a small town is like walking into a place that is your own. A place to build your own foundation. Going to a small town high school, you have to make a name for yourself. Like me and others growing up in a small town, high school is the best place for one to find themselves before starting the real world.

1. You've had the same friends for four years.

Even though you may have only met freshman year, you know your friendship will last a lifetime.

2. After every football game, you'd meet at Waffle House.

Nothing calls for a victory win than meeting with your friends for waffles and hash browns.

3. Before school, everyone would meet at the local donut shop for breakfast.

And sometimes your first-period teacher wouldn't let you eat one in class unless you shared with them.

4. You were so close to your teachers that you ate lunch in their classroom and not the cafeteria.

This is where the school scoop came from...not the cafeteria.

5. You had that one cool teacher who would let you ditch class to tag your friends' car in the parking lot.

"Johnny is a cutie! Honk if you think so ;)"

6. You knew everyones parents and where they lived.

They were probably your neighbor.

7. That one person always hosted the coolest parties.

And if you weren't there people wondered where you were.

8. Everyone had a designated lunch table.

"You can't sit with us."

9. Your teachers knew your siblings from previous years of teaching them.

You automatically had a target on your back if your older sibling left a bad reputation.

10. Your teachers also doubled as your coaches.

Your history professor was probably your baseball coach.

11. Your idea of fun was hanging out in the parking lot.

Especially in the morning at school, the principal would ride around the parking lot demanding you to get to the common's area.

12. You were probably late to school because you were stuck behind a school bus or tractor.

Your teacher still gave you a tardy and did not feel the slightest guilt.

13. The school parking lot was always full of pickup trucks.

Because what else would you drive...?

14. The after school spot was the drive-in.

Mozzarella sticks and a blue raspberry slush was the go-to combination.

15. The majority of your time outside of school was spent cruising around town with your friends.

Whether it was after school or at night, you knew you were stalking your crush with your friends.

16. You always had that one kid skipping class EVERY. SINGLE. PERIOD. and was probably found near the vending machines.

Even if you just went to the restroom, this kid was always seen walking around with his hall pass and eating chips.

17. The whole town attended sporting events.

Literally the whole town.

18. You probably babysat for one of your teachers.

"Does anyone want to babysit for me this weekend?"

19. Senior pranks came with major consequences.

Toilet papering the school, dressing up a goat in your school uniform and putting it in the principal's office, filling up a hallway with hay, and putting a slip n' slide in the middle of school? We still graduated though.

20. It didn't take you more than fifteen minutes to get to school.

Most people practically lived on campus.

21. News spread like wildfire.

If you don't want Bobby Jo to find out...don't tell Betty Sue.

22. You couldn't imagine having a different high school experience.

As much as you said you wanted to graduate, it's the little moments you remember when you look back on your high school days.'

The fresh country air of your hometown playing every Friday night, the stands packed with families and friends that have your back no matter what, going to church and sharing that same faith and love with those same friends you started school with is what it's all about. You could not imagine living a different lifestyle or having a different experience going to high school in a small town, and for that, you are thankful.