If you know me at all, you know how big of a people person I am and how much I love to talk. I love being able to know people wherever I go and to know my surroundings. I never thought in a million years that I would stay in the same town to attend college, in the same town where I grew up. I always get weird looks when people ask me where I went to high school and I answer with, “Oh well, I’m from Storm Lake and I attended the catholic school in town.” Trust me when I say that to be true. I never wanted to stay in Storm Lake, mainly because I had already lived in the same town for 18 years and I wanted to spread my wings and try something new. But I found 10 reasons that staying in town and attending BV was one of the best choices that I could have possibly made.

1. Keeping your job (if you had one).

I would like to think that no matter where I chose to attend college that I would not have had a problem trying to find a job, but sometimes you just never know. One of the better things about staying in Storm Lake and attending BV was that I was able to keep my job at Grand Central Coffee Station (if you have never had it, get there and try something, its all good). Which I may also add, is just a two minute from campus. I love all of the people that I work with and my bosses are very helpful and understanding when it comes to working with me and my school schedule and not having to worry about finding a new job.

2. Home cooked meals.

I mean who wouldn’t want home cooked meals? I love being able to go home on any given weeknight or weekend where I know my mom is willing to add another plate to the table, just like the good ‘ole times. My dad on the other hand claims he hates when I come home and eat with them because, “We are paying for you to eat at the school, you do not need to be eating here with us,” but I know he secretly loves having me at home, because let’s face it Hailey, I am the favorite. It also does not hurt that my mom makes the best spaghetti, hands down. I don’t care who are and what you say, it is simply wonderful.

3. Knowing the town well.

Living in Storm Lake all of my life has definitely shown me all of the tricks to survive here. I love being the person people come to if they have questions about where to go to get the best ice cream, or how late something is open, or even the really hard ones like what is the best restaurant in town. Obviously I have experienced just about everything there is to in Storm Lake, so some of those answers are hard to answer because there are a lot of places that are ranked my top one and two but I always try to give the best input.

4. Being able to see your family whenever you need to or want to.

I love my family. I am the oldest of two, so being only five minutes away from your alma mater is great, especially if you have a sister to go watch her participate in all of the many activities she does. My sister is literally one of my best friends. Knowing she is only a text away and we can go get ice cream when one of us has had a rough day is the perfect cure. My parents and my grandma are my biggest supporters and for them to be only five minutes away makes things a lot easier when I need someone to talk to or just to be around. They always push me to be the best I can be, and I will never be able to thank them enough for that.

5. Forgetting something at home is just a quick trip back.

When most people forget things at home after a weekend back, they have to get their items mailed to them or maybe even have to go out to Walmart and buy new. For me, it is a little bit easier, like just going back home and picking it up, or if I am really lucky, my parents will drop it off the next day for me. It is definitely one of the bigger perks about being in town of where I do not have to go out to Walmart and spend more money on an item that I already have but just forgot at home.

6. Staying in contact with your friends from high school.

For me this one hits home a little more, rather than for other people. A few of my best friends are still in high school (but graduating in May) and although I have met many of my best friends here at school too, I will never lose the friendships that I had to get me through the hardest years of my life. I know no matter what time and for the most part, no matter the circumstance, my high school best friends will be there for me no matter what and I will never be able to thank them enough for that. It was also really nice that this past year I was able to watch them in their final year of high school sports, maybe not be the cheerleader on the sideline, but definitely the cheerleader in the stands.

7. Not having to change doctors, your dentist, your hairstylist, etc.

Not having to worry about switching your doctor, your dentist, your bank, and your hairstylists has saved me a lot of time and energy. I always hear my friends complain about having to wait and make appointments with their hairstylists, if they are sick, and having to try out a new doctor. I know it sounds like a small stupid problem, but trust me it is wonderful not having to worry about the smaller things. I love being able to stay with my same dentist and doctor and nurses because, for the most part, it is the same friendly faces that I have grown up around and trying to go to someone new or having to wait a long time is something that just does not sound fun to me.

8. All of your friends being home and you are already home.

I love the fact that when my friends that I graduated high school with, come home for their breaks or just for the weekend, I will likely able to see them. Yes, this may sound kind of selfish, but trying to plan around two to five peoples’ schedules is a little bit harder than you think. Having everyone back in the same place at the same time is very nice because if something is going on we can all meet somewhere without having to worry about being in different places. The biggest thing that sucks the most is them being done with school before me and watching them be free and not have responsibilities while I am sitting in school studying my life away… Not long friends, not long.

9. No long drives home.

One of the easiest things to do is hop in my car and go home for a home cooked meal on a Tuesday night, and still be able to get back to school before ten o’clock. Living five minutes away and less than a mile from school is easily one of the best things. I do not have to worry about 3 hour drives home and back, all I have to worry about is whether or not I will hit all five green lights on the way back to school. Spending all day Sunday with my family and leaving home at 9 only to get back to school at 9:05 is the one of the simplest things in life.

10. Knowing everyone wherever I go.

If anyone knows my mother, you will know that I don’t fall far from the tree. My mom and I are literally two peas in a pod, some days this is a good thing, others not so much. But man does my mom like to talk, and wow oh wow has that rubbed off on me. Wherever I go, no matter to Hy-Vee (where my dad happens to works) or to Casey’s at 11:30 p.m. on Friday night, and seeing my high school English teacher. I am bound to run into someone I know. All of my friends that I have met at college are always so amazed that I know someone just about everywhere I go. To me Storm Lake is not a very big town and being here for 18 years has come with its perks. I love always seeing a smiling face when I walk in somewhere and always being greeted with a warm “Hello!”

Staying in Storm Lake for another four years to attend Buena Vista University was easily one of the best decisions I have made in my life. It is a disguise in many different ways. I love everything about the town and all of the people that make the town what it is today. No matter where I go I usually always hear: “Ohhhhhh so you’re Gina’s daughter!” or “Hey, I just saw your dad like five minutes ago and he has some awesome deals going on!” Whatever it may be that specific day, I am thankful for the University that I chose and most importantly the town that I grew up in that shaped me into the person I am today.