By DEVYN LANSDEN, Editorial Editor
I graduated with 27 kids in my class.
That usually shocks many people. But what is funny is that there were a lot of kids in my class. The schools around were smaller.
Growing up in a small town is something I am grateful for. Not having to worry about anything. Leaving the car unlocked when running in the store.
Talking to everyone you run into because everyone was your friend.
The closest Walmart to Beaver is in Liberal, Kansas. That was where everyone would go to eat or watch movies.
The best part of a small town is the close community. Everyone knows you, which means everyone supports you.
The stands were filled with fans at every home game, and when a team would go to the playoffs, all the businesses would stand outside and cheer us on as we left town.
Going to school in a small town was always so fun because whoever I went to Pre-K with was who I graduated with. Not many people get to say that, and I always felt so lucky being around my classmates for 13 years.
I am still friends with the majority of my class. A lot of them came to Northwestern, too.
Growing up, I played all sports: basketball, fast pitch, slow pitch and cheer. I got to be in the choir and the band.
I participated in everything I could in school, and I feel like it has helped me balance being a mass communication major and working at the newspaper and recruitment office.
I meet so many people touring the college from bigger cities, and I love talking to them about their big schools and sharing my experience of living in a small town.
It always is a shock when I tell people I’m from the Panhandle.
Since Beaver is so small, coming to Alva was an upgrade. I mean, come on; there was a Walmart in the same town I slept in.
However, college was so much different and a big change even though Alva isn’t as big as some college towns.
It was weird to me walking around and people had no idea who I was. I loved it, though, because growing up in Beaver, everyone knows everyone.
I think it was good for me to grow up in a small town because I know I want to branch out and live in a bigger city.
The best part of upgrading from your hometown is coming back and people know that you are doing so well.
I like going back to Beaver and seeing all my old teachers and other old friends.
I’m so grateful for all my friends because the majority of them came to Northwestern.
I made even more great friends at college, and I will always have my hometown friends.