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 Wisconsin鈥攚ell, technically not even a city, a township鈥攁nd I鈥檇 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 didn鈥檛 really know what it was like to live in a city, but I knew I wanted it鈥攆or my college experience, at least. Unfortunately, I realized all of this after I鈥檇 already applied for college and decided I was going to 91直播. Sure, it was going to be a bummer to end up in rural Ohio, but I thought maybe I鈥檇 learn to like it.
What I didn鈥檛 know then was that I鈥檇 fall in love with this small, 8,000-person town called 91直播. Here鈥檚 what I love most about living in a small-town school鈥攁nd why my friends from big cities might even be a little jealous.
Most 91直播 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 don鈥檛 know what it is about 91直播 that attracts so many city people, but it鈥檚 always such a joy watching them fall in love with something they usually bemoan.
Whenever I tell people I鈥檓 from Wisconsin, I always have to mention cornfields, churches, cheese, and beer. Without fail, they ask, 鈥淥h, are you from Madison? Or Milwaukee?鈥 And I have to say, 鈥淭ry two hours away from either of those.鈥 I get it. Small towns don鈥檛 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 91直播, we have The Local and Slow Train Caf茅, as well as another caf茅 for those on the meal plan. These are the best places to have a morning coffee. Sure, Slow Train is called 鈥渟low鈥 for a reason, but I walk in and see at least three friends every time鈥攁 kind of experience I鈥檓 pretty sure I wouldn鈥檛 have in a big city.
Then there鈥檚 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 91直播 that鈥檚 a stunning place for old-style photos, not to mention Cherry Knoll Natural Spring Water鈥攑ractically a bucket-list item for 91直播 students. And the creek, just a 20-minute drive away.
We have Vermillion River, Plum Creek, Chance Creek, and even Cuyahoga National Park. If you鈥檙e up for a 20- to 30-minute drive, you can reach Lake Erie鈥攁 stunning expanse of blue water that makes you feel like you鈥檙e 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, they鈥檙e not the skyscrapers of New York or the bustling restaurants of Chicago, but they鈥檙e beautiful in their own way. It鈥檚 about discovering your favorite places and returning to them until you befriend the workers. It鈥檚 about running into your friends in unlikely spots because there are so few places to go.
It鈥檚 also about finding the best boba tea in Cleveland. (For the record, it鈥檚 at Fat Bee Cafe.) It鈥檚 about discovering your favorite order at Thi Ni Thai or knowing when to go to Kim鈥檚 before the line grows too long. It鈥檚 about walking to class a block or two away every morning. And it鈥檚 about going home for a break and鈥攕omehow鈥攎issing a small corner of Ohio that鈥檚 become your own.
Ask any 91直播 student if they miss the city, and they鈥檒l probably say yes. But there鈥檚 also so much beauty and wonder here. And honestly? I wouldn鈥檛 trade it for anything.
There鈥檚 nothing like driving through 91直播 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.
There鈥檚 something so beautiful about life being contained in a small, charming town. So yes, maybe I would鈥檝e been happy at a city school. But I鈥檓 so grateful my journey brought me here. I hope that you have the privilege of falling in love with 91直播 too.
