Ever since I moved away from my small town in western North Carolina, there have been many things I have learned. While there are parts of my town that I love and still appreciate, and there are some things that I wish were a little different now that I have had experiences outside of it. Here are a few pros and cons I find about my small town.

Pro #1: There's always someone there for you

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Usually in small towns, a person has multiple family members or close family friends that are always there for you. If you are sick, there is most likely someone to pick you up from school. Need a ride to dance class? The neighbor's daughter probably is in the same class and can take you. There's always someone there who can look out for you and gladly lend lend a helping hand.

Con #2: Everybody knows everybody

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This does have some pros with it, but there are also many cons. Growing up in a small town, I always saw people I knew everywhere I went. Sometimes, I just wanted to go to Walmart, grab something, and leave. That isn't always possible when you run into your 2nd grade teacher, that elderly lady at church that makes good poundcake, and that girl from middle school cheer you haven't seen in forever. Also, people tend to find out things about you before you know them yourself. Word gets around fast, and the news, rather it's true or not, will get spread. People can definitely get defined by a simple action for the rest of their lives in a small town, and I find that pretty unfortunate.

Pro #2: Growing up with the same people

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This one can kind of seem like a con, but I personally loved growing up with the same people. I knew my same friends since I was 5, and it provides us with opportunities to really grow together. Along the way, some friends came and left, but having those memories that far back with people I am still close to today as a young adult is something I will always cherish.

Con #2: Not much to do

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Towns are what you make of them. In mine, it was bowling, going to Friday Night football games, and going to Walmart at midnight because why not. Living in other places as I've gotten older, I have really enjoyed having access to more opportunities for leisure. I will say though, we did get creative sometimes growing up, which was always fun. I just liked living in a place where the nearest mall wasn't 45-minutes away.

Pro #3: Easy to get around

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The first time I ever drove to Charlotte, I thought I was going to pass out. That amount of traffic was something I was never exposed to in my town with just a few stoplights. It really made me love and appreciate the simpleness of my town. Things were always close and never took a long time to get to. It never took me more than 20 minutes to get to school, dance, church, or the nearest Walmart. That is a definite plus for me.

Con #3: Everyone thinks the same

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This one is a little controversial, and this is a very generalized statement, but it's something I feel strongly about. When I went to college and worked at a summer camp that was not in my town, I realized how much more this world has to offer. It also made me experience and see things I only ever heard about. Through college and working as a camp counselor, I was able to met so many people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, stories, and much more that made them have certain feelings about select topics. It really opened my eyes and heart to actually meet people who went through experiences that make them have opinions and beliefs on topic that people condemn in my town so often. People are totally allowed to have their own opinions, I just feel like at times people in my small town never experience or meet people who mind give them new perspective on topics, so they continue to have this small town mindset.

Pro #4: Having your own lingo

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It's kind of funny when I am talking to someone from my neck of the woods around people who aren't. They always say we sound more country when we talk to each other, and we say certain words and phrases only we understand. It's like we're in this secret group or alliance and we have a code that no one else understands. I think it's pretty cool.

Con #4: Fewer opportunities 

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Honestly, I might would live in my town after I graduated if they had more job opportunities for my specific realm of study. There is plenty of room for teachers, police officers, and small business owners. But other than that, there are not a whole lot of range of jobs within a small town. I want to be a communications director for an organization, and to become the best I can be in what I want to do, there is no way I can work in my county. That is just one of the things you have to face in small town.

With all this said, I really do love where I grew up. I had so many opportunities as a child and teenager that were advanced because I lived in a small town, and I would not be the person I am today without growing up where I did. I have just found that there are parts of other places that I like better and prefer over my town, and I think getting out there and experiencing those places was really good for me. I don't know if I will go back and live where I grew up, but my small town will always have a very special place in my heart.