I grew up in a very small rural town called Rices Landing in southwestern Pennsylvania with a population of about 450 people. My graduating class had 60 students and I knew everyone; most of us had gone to school together since kindergarten. I know what you’re thinking: it sounds awful, but here are some things I learned to be true while growing up in my small town.

1. Your family is always there for you

No matter what happened in my life, my family was close enough to witness parts of my life. Starting from my pre-school graduation up to my high school graduation. Even little things such as winning eighth-grade class president, my family was so supportive of my actions.

2. Knowing everyone in your class isn’t always a bad thing

There were some great memories made between all of you. Plus, it provides for some good gossip when you come home from college. For example, did you hear that so and so started dating? Juicy stuff.

3. Friends were always close by

It was easy to tell your mom you were going down the road to hang out with your friends. There was no need for your parents to drive you to your friend’s house to go play since they were just a few houses down and your parents knew their parents, so it was no big deal.

4. You can tell time by street lights

Any time my sister and I went to a friend’s house my mom would tell us we had to be home by the time the street lights were coming on. In the summer that was always later, but in the fall when we gained an hour, the street lights would come on earlier and that meant it was time to go home and get ready for school.

5. Making real friends was always harder

Because you knew everyone you went to school with, you just stuck to a group of people who were your “friends.” Although when we got older friends were more real, but in elementary and middle school friends were really just acquaintances.

6. Star-filled night skies are the best

When I moved to Erie to go to school I noticed that you cannot see the stars at night. With all of the lights that are on in the City of Erie, you cannot see the stars. Every time I come home I remember to look up at the sky, because it might be a while before I can truly see the stars again.

7. No one will actually know where you are from unless they live near there

The first thing people would ask when I went to college was “Where do you live?” I have pretty much trained myself to say the Pittsburgh area, but in reality, I live an hour and a half from Pittsburgh. It was just easier than explaining, because no one knew where I lived.

8. It is relaxing to live in a small town

There is never any hustle from highway traffic and the crime rate is pretty low. No one is ever in a huge hurry to go places, it is like time is slower.

9. The autumn weather is the best weather

For most people autumn is the time to get their pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks, but out here it is the time where the leaves change color and there is never a bad time for a bonfire.

These are not the things that I truly appreciated while I was growing up. They are things that I have learned to appreciate after I moved away to college and experiencing a different way of life. Small town life isn't always that bad.