If you're anything like me, then you grew up in a pretty small town next to a small or large college town. And for whatever reason, you decided to simply move to said small or large college town for your college experience. But deciding to do this simply comes with some costs, OK, and maybe some benefits.
1. You always see someone you know.
You are bound to run into someone from your high school when you go out. Whether you're making a run to Wal-Mart or headed out for a night of fun with you new college friends, there is always the possibility of running into at least one of your former classmates.
2. You realize who your true friends are.
Your high school friends might be unhappy about the changes in your life. Whether you join a sorority or fraternity, play on a sports team, or are just putting more focus on your school work than you did in high school, your priorities are going to change. Slowly you'll start to lose contact with your friends because, maybe, your lives are growing too far apart to find things you still have in common.
3. After starting college, summers are never the same.
When your college friends leave for the summer, you sit around waiting for their return and are left questioning why you decided to stay in this quiet little town in the first place.
4. You are already somewhat familiar with all of the local bars and clubs.
Those 'college bars' you go out to on the weekends are the same bars/clubs you've been going to since you turned 18. In high school.
5. Sometimes you have to put on your best behavior when you run into certain people.
Running to Wal-Mart? Might see some familiar faces from high school. Sometimes you feel like you have to behave a little better than your friends because who knows who you'll run into. At a concert? OH, look. It's my elementary school music teacher. 'Oh, HEY! I haven't seen you in the longest time! Are you sure you're old enough to be somewhere like this?!' 'Yupp! It has been quite a few years since I was in elementary school.'
6. You'll meet people from the same area as you.
You begin to meet people who had the same idea as you - to move to the small college town next to their hometown. Which makes you realize that maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to move 45 minutes away from home.
7. You don't have to make special plans about going home.
You have the chance to go home whenever you please. This in and of itself could be a blessing and a curse. Living close to home gives you the luxury of not having to rush home on weekends and having to rush back. But, it also means your parents and the rest of the family also have the luxury of just stopping by whenever they please.
8. You have the opportunity to combine your high school friends with your college friends.
You have the opportunity to keep in better contact with all of your high school friends. Maybe you'll even get lucky enough to have the two groups meet and become friends.
9. There's always the "what if" card.
You sometimes wonder 'what if.' What if I went away to college? How different would my life be? But you know, at the end of the day, it was worth staying in your city to go to school.
10. You rediscover your love for the town you decided to stay in.
You rediscover the beauty of the town you chose to stay in for college. In the madness that can be life, we sometimes forget how beautiful the simple things in our city can be. When you're out exploring with all of your new friends, they're going to notice things you've been over looking for years. Their new discoveries help you to realize what you've been missing.
So for whatever reason you decided to stay home for college, embrace it. Make the best of it. And remember, something made you want to stay and hold on to that something, no matter what it is.
