Growing up in Small Town USA, I was often told that I'd always come back. I was raised with stories of friends skipping town in search of broader horizons, only to find their true place in this world was two hours south of Springfield, Illinois. It seemed that no matter where I went, a piece of me would long for home, and I'd always be stuck there. Leaving was something that seemed so out of reach, but once I finally flew the nest for a short while, I found out why people say small towns are the junk drawers of America. Here are five reasons why leaving my hometown was one of the best things I've ever done:
1. Diversity
It's no secret that a town of fewer than 2,500 people isn't going to see very much cultural difference. Diversity is important to developing a sense of your privilege and expanding your knowledge of other cultures so you can better understand the world around you. Some things you just can’t learn in school and first-hand experience of those unlike you is one of them.
2. Drama
Small towns are known for being dramatic and over-the-top, and mine is no exception. After leaving high school, it only seems to get worse. Though there are still many incidents outside of a small town, they usually don't fester; it’s hard to feed the drama if you can’t involve everyone in it.
3. Opportunity
Career wise, most small towns are dead-end. Working at a grocery store, gas station or family business probably won’t provide enough income for you to sustain a family, and if it does, the odds of a promotion that provides much of a difference in income is less than likely.
4. Privacy
When you grow up in such a close environment, it becomes evident that you’ll most likely never have any secrets. As you grow up, you require more and more privacy in your life. It begins to feel like you can’t trust anyone, which only drives you closer to leaving. You know the citizens mean well, but that doesn’t stop you from feeling like you can only tell yourself and your diary.
5. Stagnation
Small towns don’t change. No matter how long you’re there or how long you’re gone, the stagnation of the environment is undeniable. Big news comes and goes, residents move in, move out, die and are born, and the whole process seems like an endless cycle. This type of repetitiveness is another huge factor of who moves and who stays. If you’re anything like me, eighteen years of your life is long enough to live in a still frame.
Don’t get me wrong, I love where I grew up, and I wouldn’t trade it for another hometown. While I’m partial to the area, I needed to branch out. It was important to me to leave the nest, explore my options, and know that there’s more than where I live. I’ve always been told of the world around me, but leaving was a wonderful way to experience it, and even though I miss home, I know it will never be the actual town I miss.
