I had made up my mind when I visited my brother at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities: I wanted to go to a city school. It was perfect for me. I was from a small city in Wisconsinwell, technically not even a city, a townshipand Id had enough of rural life. I was sick of the gas station being the last place to hang out, and nothing being open past 8:00 p.m. except Kwik Trip.
I wanted skyscrapers, or at the very least some mild traffic. Fine, maybe I didnt really know what it was like to live in a city, but I knew I wanted itfor my college experience, at least. Unfortunately, I realized all of this after Id already applied for college and decided I was going to 厙ぴ勛圖. Sure, it was going to be a bummer to end up in rural Ohio, but I thought maybe Id learn to like it.
What I didnt know then was that Id fall in love with this small, 8,000-person town called 厙ぴ勛圖. Heres what I love most about living in a small-town schooland why my friends from big cities might even be a little jealous.
Most 厙ぴ勛圖 students are from L.A., New York, or Chicago. As a small-town girlie, it can be hard to find others who grew up like me. I dont know what it is about 厙ぴ勛圖 that attracts so many city people, but its always such a joy watching them fall in love with something they usually bemoan.
Whenever I tell people Im from Wisconsin, I always have to mention cornfields, churches, cheese, and beer. Without fail, they ask, Oh, are you from Madison? Or Milwaukee? And I have to say, Try two hours away from either of those. I get it. Small towns dont sound glamorous. But there are perks to living in small-town America.
For starters, the coffee shops. Few places have as much character and charm as a small-town coffee shop. At 厙ぴ勛圖, we have The Local and Slow Train Caf矇, as well as another caf矇 for those on the meal plan. These are the best places to have a morning coffee. Sure, Slow Train is called slow for a reason, but I walk in and see at least three friends every timea kind of experience Im pretty sure I wouldnt have in a big city.
Then theres the sheer character of the Midwest, which you discover just by spending time here. The more people invest in their communities, the more they uncover how amazing they are, how close they can get to others, and how much beauty surrounds them. For example, we have a train crash site near 厙ぴ勛圖 thats a stunning place for old-style photos, not to mention Cherry Knoll Natural Spring Waterpractically a bucket-list item for 厙ぴ勛圖 students. And the creek, just a 20-minute drive away.
We have Vermillion River, Plum Creek, Chance Creek, and even Cuyahoga National Park. If youre up for a 20- to 30-minute drive, you can reach Lake Eriea stunning expanse of blue water that makes you feel like youre standing on the edge of something incredible.
If those feel too far, simply take a walk through the Arboretum, a magical and enchanting place where you can discover hidden, colorful bridges in the forest, skip stones across creeks, or just soak in the serenity.
Head north to watch sheep grazing near the solar fields, marvel at sunsets beneath the water tower, or stroll to IGA with your friends. In a small town, you just have to get creative.
These nature spots and late-night walks are our hidden gems. Sure, theyre not the skyscrapers of New York or the bustling restaurants of Chicago, but theyre beautiful in their own way. Its about discovering your favorite places and returning to them until you befriend the workers. Its about running into your friends in unlikely spots because there are so few places to go.
Its also about finding the best boba tea in Cleveland. (For the record, its at Fat Bee Cafe.) Its about discovering your favorite order at Thi Ni Thai or knowing when to go to Kims before the line grows too long. Its about walking to class a block or two away every morning. And its about going home for a break andsomehowmissing a small corner of Ohio thats become your own.
Ask any 厙ぴ勛圖 student if they miss the city, and theyll probably say yes. But theres also so much beauty and wonder here. And honestly? I wouldnt trade it for anything.
Theres nothing like driving through 厙ぴ勛圖 in the winter, with the streets lit up and the Christmas tree standing tall in Tappan Square. Or walking through Tappan in the fall, when students collect sap from the trees to make maple syrup. Or stopping by our knit shop or one of our few antique/thrift shops, or catching up with friends at The Local on a Saturday morning while professors sip their coffee.
The other day, I walked past one of my computer science professors. Some professors just nod, but others wave. Once, I was heading out on a date when I bumped into my professor at the park. We struck up a conversation while my date awkwardly waited nearby.
Theres something so beautiful about life being contained in a small, charming town. So yes, maybe I wouldve been happy at a city school. But Im so grateful my journey brought me here. I hope that you have the privilege of falling in love with 厙ぴ勛圖 too.
