Growing up in a town of 10,000 people and a corn field in the middle of my town taught me a lot more than I thought when I lived there. I learned the most when I went off to a four year college. I was only 2 hours away, but I no longer lived with my family and wasn't down the street from my friends. Everything changed so fast. Growing up in a small town was the best thing that happened to me. But what did my small town teach me without me noticing?

Keep your friend group small

You can have many “friends” in your social life at college. But the people you tell everything to, all your secrets, keep that group small. Make sure you can trust them 100%. Some things can be spread like wildfire if they get into the wrong hands, and rumors are just like in high school: everyone will know by the next day. No one wants a high school repeat, so be careful on who your friends are and who are your acquaintances.

Enjoy the little things

Even if you and your roommate having a movie night together, enjoy that. You don’t have to go to a huge party and the bars to make memories. Get lunch with a friend, or study in the library together, something very simple as those things will mean so much later on. Have fun without alcohol. Back home, we used to sit in a parking lot and talk for hours because there was nothing else to do. Remember to do nothing sometimes; those nights can make the best memories and friendships.

Tell your family and friends you love them

Since you’re off to college now, you won’t see your family as much. Before you left for college you would just tell them bye and where you were going. Now at college, you and your friends and family only talk over the phone, either calling or texting. Don't forget to always say “I love you” when ending the conversation. In a small town you see your friends and family every day, and you see them everywhere, so don't forget you moved out and things aren't the same. After leaving for college, I started losing a lot of friends and family to many different things. I wish I could have told them I loved them one last time so they knew before they left this earth. Tell your family and friends how much they mean to you.

How popular you are in high school doesn't mean anything in college

Just because you are a “cool kid” or the “nerdy band geek” or even the “snobby cheerleader” doesn’t mean that’s who you have to be in college. College is a fresh start for you whether you need one or not, you get a new start. In college you will find the friends that will appreciate who you are and let you be whoever you want to be. Don't let the small town reputation follow you into college if you don't want it to.

College is a whole new ball game between making new friends, learning harder class material and adjusting to the new lifestyle. College also gives you a fresh start to be whoever you want to be. You will be there for 4 years, so be the person you truly are. From high school to college I have changed and grown up in many different levels of my life. But thankfully I grew up in my small town to prepare me without me even noticing.

Thanks H-Town for being there even though I wanted to leave so bad growing up.