Whether you chose to stay in your hometown or leave, growing up in a “little big town” will always have its roots in you. You’ll always appreciate the familiarity of home after coming back from university, or when your local sports teams start to be noticed on a bigger scale (Go Zags!). The quirkiness and individuality your hometown has will forever mold who you are and who you become. Here are four familiar things you know if you're from a little big town, too:

1. You get really excited whenever your hometown is mentioned anywhere besides the local news.

Whether it’s a show, movie, music video, or even the national news, you can’t help but feel a little bit smug about living in a place deemed “cool enough” to be noticed by people that don’t live here. And you’re probably going to use it as an icebreaker whenever applicable.

2. Your idea of a “fun night out with friends” is you driving around for three hours trying to find something fun to do.

Not that driving around, blasting music, and wasting gas isn’t a fun time, but you kinda wish your Friday night would consist of a little more than loitering in your neighborhood Target and raiding the gas station near your best friend’s house.

3. You have had the same friend group since kindergarten.

Holding onto friendships you made at the age of 6 is common because your town is so small you know you’d run into them anyway. Besides, how awesome will it be when you can share embarrassing throwback pictures of your besties at their weddings?

4. You always complain about your town, but deep down you know you’ll always love it.

Despite your desire to go to a university away from your home, and your snarky remarks to your friends about your town’s reputation, this is the place you grew up — the place where you met your closest friends, the place that taught you how to be you — and no matter where you go, you’ll always be rooted in your little big town.