They say home is where the heart is, but I think because of my small town I have a bigger heart. I’m not going to lie, I couldn’t wait to leave it. If you grew up in a small town it is easy to relate to my experiences. Everyone knows everybody’s business. You could just think about doing something wrong and your parents would already know before you even did it. You go to the grocery store and see at least 10 people you knew. Everyone knew you, your family and your dog's name. People were always there to congratulate you or lift you up when you just need someone there. Also, pretty much everyone was related. When someone ask where your town is, you have to mention a surrounding bigger town, and then maybe that was 45 minutes to 2 hours away from the city. It was what I grew up knowing, and I had to learn to adapt when attending a university.
I attended college away from home and I’m glad. I made great friends, memories and I love where I live now. But there is something still missing. I miss the small football games, the little parades, the fall festivals, my friends and even some of the home town drama. Friends who stayed behind to attend community college would tell me the latest gossip and I would say, “that’s the reason why I left,” but the truth is, I’m jealous.
Graduating with a class of 81 kids was hard. We knew each other's secrets and we know how to put each other down. When I look back on it now I realize these are the people I learned how to be me from. I learned how to trust, how to help someone who needs me and what a true friend was.My small town taught me a few good friends is all you need. That family means everything, through the good times and the bad. It taught me how to be creative and always be up for adventures. If you were lucky enough to grow up in a small town you realize the ups and the downs, but the memories and experiences you have will last forever. I'm glad I grew up in such a wonderful place, and leaving it was harder than I thought it would be. My town taught me to be, well, me.
