My Small-Town Roots

I grew up in a little town in northeast Ohio. The realization of how little people knew about Ohio came quickly after I went to school in central Pennsylvania. Though I lived only three and a half hours away, most of my classmates thought of Ohio as a whole different world. “Do you have to fly home? Do you live on a farm?” The constant questions were never-ending. I was a novelty in their eyes.

As I grow older, I’m more and more thankful for my small town roots. Sure, my friends and I loved to complain about how bored we were in the middle of nowhere; however, as I finish up my junior year of college, I’m convinced that it took But our small town to realize how much we actually loved it and what exactly we loved about it.

The pace of life is slow and people value connecting to each other. You do more than just talk to your neighbors — in a lot of cases, they’re truly an extension of your family. Much of this lifestyle centers around being outside and knowing the ins and outs of the town; being present and mindful of your surroundings is a critical part of the culture.

As I move through my college years, I look forward to the visits to my little hometown. I am grateful for the rich experience that I had growing up and know that wherever my next adventure takes me, I can trust my small town roots to lead me in the right direction.