I’m a city girl. There’s no mistaking it. I walk quickly, always on a mission to pack something new into my day. That is a good thing and a bad thing, but being a big city girl in a really small town is not all that it’s cracked up to be. I was born in San Diego, but raised in Atlanta, so I’m used to cities. Whenever I travel, I don’t stay local or go to small towns, I go big and far! I feel inspired and alive when I’m in a city, but being in small towns almost feel like they confine you. You don’t have the option to go to certain stores or restaurants 24/7, sometimes you become the black sheep in terms of ideology, but also, I’ve personally found that being in a small town limits my creative juices. I feel stuck being at a small school, and I know I’m not alone. Don’t get me wrong, I love Covington and Oxford, but trust me, I am not alone in sometimes feeling like I don’t fit in.
Being at a small school has its good moments and its bad. I love the size of Oxford because I can get to know people deeply and create meaningful relationships that I may not be able to do if I was at a larger school. Being stuck doesn’t always mean a bad thing, but sometimes it can just signal that there’s more to life than what’s right in front of you. For myself, I know that being stuck in a small town forces me to come out of my comfort zone and also find some time just for me. Everyone’s pretty packed in at Oxford, the campus is small, the parties are very limited and regulated, so students often feel trapped or stuck, but although you aren’t alone, realize that you have an entire life ahead of yourself to live. Being stuck at one point pushes you to make the moves essential to get out of this sector of life where you’re stuck and to keep pushing. To all those who feel stuck being at a small school, look outside of your school and see where the nearest city is. Find a friend with a car and go experience an art museum or have the best food ever, but explore an aspect of life that you already know makes you happy. Being at college is all about striking a tedious balance between work and leisure, so make sure to find some fun activities to help alleviate how stuck you feel.
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