Small towns do have their perks, of course, all towns do but I cannot help but feel trapped when I think about being home for the summer, 4 months, in this town that really isn't appealing to me.
1. The assumption that everyone's political views are conservative because we live in a small religious town. Also, the mass amount of Trump supporters.
Let's get this one out of the way from the start. I am seeing a ridiculous amount of Trump supporters in my home town from some people who are not even sure who Donald Trump is or what his campaign entails.
2. Everyone knows each other and their business.
We all graduated together, worked with someone's sister, or grew up with someone's mom and we know everything about each other. And somehow people know secrets about us we didn't even know.
3. There is NOTHING to do.
Unless you're willing to drive a distance to actually do something your options are pretty slim. You eventually begin making up things to do that are convenient.
4, Everyone is expected to be white and straight.
Whether we like it or not homophobia and racism is very present in small towns like our own. We grew up with maybe one black person and being gay was always looked down upon by most. This results in close mindedness and a sense of superiority over the minorities of our small town. And although this might pass for acceptable at home, once we enter the real world diversity is all around us and for some of us, such as myself, it's so refreshing.
5. Being different is being an outcast
Being different in a small town separates you from an already small group of people to an even smaller group of people who are different too. Having different opinions or being outspoken about something receives criticism and you can feel left out or that you are not adequate enough. However, getting out into the real world you realize people LIKE different.
6. When we get out, for some of us, it's the best day of our lives.
For some leaving for college was hard because they had always loved home and the town they grew up in. However, for the rest of us leaving was one of the best things that had happened to us. We get to leave and meet new people who have different cultures and stories who don't know who we are yet. We get to decide how people view us not our peers. We get to be different in an environment full of diversity without feeling like we need to hide. A small town has its perks but getting out was a weight lifted off of my shoulders.
