Suburban-Charmed Kinda Life: Rural or Citified?

"I'm just a little bit caught in the middle..." - "The Show" by Lenka

Lenka, girl, I can relate. My whole life has revolved around being trapped in the middle in some form or fashion, most pronouncedly in regards to my location. I live in a small town that, in one direction, lies 15 minutes from acres upon acres of farmland owned by the same three families who first purchased it decades ago. In the other direction, the blossoming home of blues and rock and roll, Memphis, TN, is an equidistant 15 minute commute. Then, there's my hometown: the pinnacle of suburbia, the crossroads of ruralization and urbanization, population 12,345 (yes, really), Marion, AR.

Marion's education system and town surroundings have been the only standards I have ever known. However, my cousins live in one of the more highly populated areas in Memphis, so we are able to compare the opportunities and standards of a big city versus a small town, the pressing debate proposed by Blaze Wifi. Honestly, the contrast is astounding and quite unnerving.

Their high school, approximately three times the size of mine, provides many more opportunities for community outreach, has better trained faculty members, and contains actual cultural diversity. In my town, a student has enough volunteer opportunities to fit on one hand, no more and no less. As a result, I chose to seek out volunteering in the Memphis area. Over the course of my high school career, I had a total of six teachers that I truly felt cared about their students while each of my cousins' teachers have gone above and beyond to teach well. As far as diversity, we have but one school district, so most of the students you begin school with are the same peers you end it with. As a student body, we are composed of about half Caucasian, about half African-American, and about one-68th other races, such as Asian or Hispanic. As someone who falls into the "other" category, I can honestly express that this does not make me feel like an outsider; however, speaking as someone who has always loved learning about other cultures, it is severely stifling to go to school with the same people for 13 years, most of whom have the same opinions and outlook on life. The comfort that results from knowing everyone in your area is not preparatory for college nor does it stimulate crucial self-discovery and personal growth. Yet, in any Memphis school (or any big city school), everywhere you look lies a student of a different race with individual opinions.

In terms of a lifestyle, rural areas are exactly as one would imagine. There is little to do on a Friday night besides attend a football game and a lot to do with small town gossip. However, on the plus side, I like to remain active and go outside everyday if possible, and in a rural area, the threat of polluted air or robbery while out alone as a young female is negligible.

Brunetti Park in its golden hour glory.

I live within walking distance from a small park (pictured above) with a multitude of trees (Woohoo! Fresh oxygen!) and a running track. When I'm not running here, I'm running around my neighborhood, a key opportunity unique to rural areas that I take for granted daily.

Farm land for days.

However, this sole benefit does not outweigh the sedentariness that inevitably results from living in a rural area. Additionally, this farming landscape gets old after a while.

Memphis is where I thrive. The creativity and culture of a big city simply cannot be replicated in a rural setting, and I believe this is crucial to developing a broad sense of the world. It's where my soul comes to life, being surrounded by fellow foodies...

The "Say Cheese!" food truck at a local arts festival.

One of the additions to midtown Memphis in the recent boom of new restaurants.  

Babalu's food is just beautiful. Like I said, Memphis is where I thrive.

...getting active with my friends in extraordinary ways...

My friends and I at the 2014 Color Run.

...taking advantage of a crazy awesome zoo...

When have you last seen sheep so majestic?

...and letting my inner concert lover take flight.

Yes, the Man Bun King, Hozier, came to the King of Rock and Roll's home for Memphis in May.

Personally, I am very much a city dweller. Having been exposed to both environments, it is from my experience that I can conclude rural areas are not ideal for anyone desiring to venture further than the small town limits he/she is raised in. They simply do not provide the necessary opportunities to stand out in a college application, a job interview, or any other competitive setting. Living near a big city has allowed me to become the open-minded, culture-seeking teenager I am today.