When I was younger I never considered where I grew up a “small town”, but then every time family from far away came to visit they would always say “wow you live in the country, middle of nowhere.” I always thought they didn’t know what they were talking about, because to me as a kid it seemed like the biggest place in the world. I thought everyone had huge backyards and farm fields by their houses. Then as I grew up and actually went places outside of my hometown I started to see that a town of 10,000 wasn’t exactly the biggest, but not necessarily the smallest either. Now that I go to a school in the cities I finally realize how lucky I was to grow up in a small town, and for that, I am forever grateful.

Though some might not agree, I think if you grow up in a small town you are pretty lucky. There are some things you can get from a small town that you wouldn’t necessary learn in the same way if you grew up in the city. Yes, everyone’s experience is different and not all towns are the same, but they share relatively similar values. In small towns, it’s common for families to go to church every Sunday morning then participate in the brunch together afterward. It’s normal to judge someone by their handshake when you first meet them and if they look you in the eye or not. You’re are expected to always use your manners, such as your p’s and q’s, and you will get smacked over the head if you don’t. It’s common to call adults mam and sir and to respect your elders. It’s a part of a person’s normal routine to smile and wave at people when you’re driving; to give small gestures and help out a stranger on the side of the road if their car brakes down. In some places, you’d get honked at or driven off the road if you did that. But it’s also common to have a bonfire every summer night in your friend’s backyard or field. To spend your whole day down by the river on the rope swing, or to just drive around in your truck all day. It’s the small things like that, that really stick with you for a lifetime.

In small towns one of the greatest things is the close-knit community feel. I know for sure I grew up with one of those. Every time our community went through a crisis or a family was in need everyone knew about it and did their best to help. Or on a Friday night the stands would be full with supportive cheering fans from not just friends or family members of the players. Because whether if it’s a family going through a hard time or something as simple as your neighbor needing a cup of sugar, you always have someone to go to.

That is what makes small communities so close. Everyone knows everyone. Which means everyone knows everything about everyone, so news travels fast. Though at times most people hate that part of small towns you eventually get used to it. If you don’t want someone finding out about something stupid that you did, then you simply choose not to do it. Which can work out in some cases but not all. The positive side of everyone knowing each other tends to outweigh the negative, though. Eventually, when you grow up with the same kids and families all your life they eventually become like family, and that’s the truly special part. Some of the people I grew up with are the most amazing people I’ve ever met; I'd do anything for them and I know they'd do the same for me. When you grow up with the same people and spend a lot of your time around them you start to think of them as more than just someone that lives down the street from you. You start to see them as someone you'd do anything for, and that's also pretty special.

When you’re 18 years old all you want to do is leave the small town you grew up in and go onto bigger and better things. It seems though once you start moving onto those bigger and better things you start to miss those small things you once had. You start to look back on those memories you never thought you would. You realize how much you took those simple sunsets, tall trees, and vast fields for granted. Because you definitely do not get that in the big cities with man-made parks. Most importantly when you find yourself in a tough spot or hard decision you always fall back on the values and lessons you were raised on as a kid. At least I know I have. When I was younger I sometimes questioned the views I was raised around or I would look at my parents and think I’ll never be/think like them. Yet the thing is, whenever I get stuck in something or I’m giving someone else advice, I find myself always telling others what my parents told me.

What I’m trying to say is where you grew up and your small town values will always stick with you. You might change drastically, multiple times over the years even, but you will always have the memories and lessons of your town. The people and the area where you had your first loves will always stay buried in your heart. Everyone is different and had different experiences growing up, but I think we all can agree though we definitely learned something from it. Try not to forget those nights by the lake, the last time you were on the court with your team, the last time you cheered for your school, your first kiss, your first heart break, and all those people who tested you but also gave you joy. Because those were the moments your home town shaped you. I don’t know about you but I am forever grateful for how my hometown shaped me.