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13 Signs You Grew Up in a Small Town As Told by The Office

The struggles of growing up in a small town.

May 24, 2016

13 Signs You Grew Up in a Small Town As Told by The Office

I grew up on Shelter Island, which is an island in between the two forks of Long Island (so an island off of an island). With a year-round population of about 3,000 people (it is mainly a summer and weekend tourist hot spot), Shelter Island is one of the smallest towns on Long Island. As someone who graduated high school with 20 people (10 boys and 10 girls), I know the struggles of growing up in a small town all too well.

Here are just a few things that I have learned from growing up in a small town:

1. Literally EVERYONE knows everyone's business.

If you tell your friend something, chances are that 10 people will know about it in the next five minutes.

2. Don't want to be seen today? Too bad, because you are going to run into everyone you know in the supermarket.

Oh, and they also want to know EVERYTHING that you've been up to.

3. Everyone remembers the kid who thew up in kindergarten.

4. Visiting your old high school teachers is totally normal and not weird.

5. Hope you like everyone because you'll be with them from kindergarten until you leave for college!

6. Want to get something to eat late at night? Too bad because everything closes at 7pm!

7. Yes, everyone still remembers that time you farted during class in middle school.

8. Not even attempting to use your fake ID at local bars because everyone knows how old you are.

Even when you're 21 it's still weird. Who wants to see their friends' parents at the bar?

9. Close-minded people who are mentally 50 years behind.

It's 2016, people!

10. Spending your off-days in the summer at the beach.

That is if you're from a beach community.

11. Quick trip to the mall? More like 30-45 minute drive to the nearest shopping center.

12. The new kid in class is suddenly the coolest thing to ever happen, and everyone wants to befriend them.

Sweet, a new human to interact with!

13. You can't flip off the people you hate at graduation because you will probably run into them again- tomorrow.

To all of my fellow small-town folks:

Although it can be tough at times, small communities have to stick together, and we will always have each other's back!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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13 Signs You Grew Up in a Small Town As Told by The Office

The struggles of growing up in a small town.

1. Literally EVERYONE knows everyone's business.

2. Don't want to be seen today? Too bad, because you are going to run into everyone you know in the supermarket.

3. Everyone remembers the kid who thew up in kindergarten.

4. Visiting your old high school teachers is totally normal and not weird.

5. Hope you like everyone because you'll be with them from kindergarten until you leave for college!

6. Want to get something to eat late at night? Too bad because everything closes at 7pm!

7. Yes, everyone still remembers that time you farted during class in middle school.

8. Not even attempting to use your fake ID at local bars because everyone knows how old you are.

9. Close-minded people who are mentally 50 years behind.

10. Spending your off-days in the summer at the beach.

11. Quick trip to the mall? More like 30-45 minute drive to the nearest shopping center.

12. The new kid in class is suddenly the coolest thing to ever happen, and everyone wants to befriend them.

13. You can't flip off the people you hate at graduation because you will probably run into them again- tomorrow.

To all of my fellow small-town folks:

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No one best represents the struggle like our favorite 90s squad.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

2. When there is only one section of a popular course.

3. Receiving the 18,000 emails reminding you to register ASAP.

4. When you need to see an advisor, but they are too busy/unresponsive.

5. Trying not to dress like a bum for your appointments with your advisors/department heads.

6. When you have a perfectly planned out schedule, and one class ruins it.

7. Carefully moving things around to accommodate a different class/section.

8. Waking up at 6:00 a.m. for your enrollment time.

9. Concocting a new schedule at your enrollment time after your original plan gets changed.

10. Getting into a class and filling the last available seat.

11. When all of your classes finally go through.

12. Realizing that you forgot a class that was a pre-requisite for everything else.

When your capability of "adulting" is put to the test

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"Nobody living in one of the most influential nations in the world should be worried about making ends meet."

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What are the benefits of raising the minimum wage?

What are the states that have set a $15/hour minimum wage?

Told through Parks & Recreation GIFs

Because who understands your bitterness better than April?

1. When you have to provide an "interesting fact" for your first day ice-breaker.

2. When your professor is babbling on and on in his lecture.

3. When you edit your friend's paper and they get an A.

4. When it's 2 AM and you remember you have a test tomorrow.

5. When you finish taking the test and you're pretty sure you failed...

6. ...but then you get the test back and somehow passed.

7. When you've been up for 12 hours straight writing a paper.

8. And then you manage to stay awake in class the next day.

9. When you have to butter up your professor for an extra credit opportunity.

10. When you're assigned a group project.

11. And your group-mates are trying to chat about life instead of the assignment.

12. When it's your last class of the day and you're about to go home.

13. But then you remember rent is due tonight and the anger comes back.

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