1 store, 1 restaurant, and no stoplight for a solid 30 miles.

When people hear that I grew up in a town the size of their graduating class, they assume that I'm a hick. In ways, yes, I'll own it. I prefer my Jeep muddy, grew up on a farm and find fishing more therapeutic than actual therapy; no, I don't wave the confederate flag or ride a horse to school. I couldn't wait to leave this teeny dot on the map, but I couldn't be more proud to say that I was raised in a small town, and here's why.

5. I learned to appreciate the little things

My town was about 45 minutes from Denver, so going shopping or going to see a movie was a rarity. Because of this, "little things"--as cheesy as it sounds--involved the smell of gasoline, summer rain on a sunburn and the thin layer of dirt on the dashboard. I was always used to everyone waving to each other from their cars as they passed, and I was raised to have manners even when I thought a swift punch to the jaw would suffice.

4. Everyone knows each other

Every time I go to the store, it feels like a reunion. Before I go to checkout, I more than likely have talked to at least one person, and I've been asked an assortment of questions pertaining to school, how my family is doing and if I saw how much the creek is flowing. I love it. It's pretty great that everyone knows each other, but on the other hand, everyone knows each other.😳 There's definitely that sense of community, but simultaneously, I learned to be on my best behavior when possible, because word seems to spread like wildfire.

3. Kindergarten-12th grade was in the same building

I grew up walking through the same doors and eating in the same cafeteria with the same people for 12 years. My elementary school was connected to my jr. high/high school by a hallway, and it blows my mind when I hear that most people had different buildings for elementary, middle school, and high school. I learned so much; a community was in that one-story building.

2. I always felt safe

I come from a town where you leave your car running if you just have to run in the store to get a gallon of milk. When I came to college I kind've forgot that you have to lock your doors unless you want to risk everything getting stolen. Nighttime in the summer, screen doors are the only barrier between the inside and outside (and that's only because we don't want bugs in the house.) This town of 1,200 people provided such a carefree and secure place for me to grow up in.

1. I found my squad

First and foremost, I hate the term "squad," I just couldn't think of another modern term for a group of people. I couldn't have been more lucky to have the friends that I did while growing up. We grew up playing peewee sports together, all the way until our last games as seniors. Instead of going to movies, or whatever every other teenager on the face of the earth did, we preferred to drive around town, listening to music, and making the 15 mile trek to the nearest fast food joint. Shoutout to Micky D's. Even though we all go to different colleges, it's so reassuring to have people, no matter the last time we had an actual conversation, that would do anything for me and vice versa.

So thank you, town that I was so anxious to leave. Thank you for giving me a place that I can genuinely call home, and for always welcoming me back.