[slideshow]
I decided to pull together some photos from back in the day when I went to college at Phillips University in Enid, OK. Lots of great friends who I’m still in touch with and a few I’ve not heard from in quite a while. And it has me thinking.
I chose to go to college on a campus that was smaller than where I went to high school. Although I had friends from Denver and Kansas City, we were not the norm. It was the first time I had met people who went to high schools where there were only a dozen or so people in the entire graduating class. When I cranked up the tunes during move-in, I found out rap hadn’t reached some areas of the U.S. It was also the first time I was in a “small town” or had been to a Wal-Mart (strategy changed to include cities later). I passed farm fields, oil wells and tractors on the way to a softball game or a friend’s apartment. Life was definitely different.
At the time, I spent summers working for the company that owned Cotton Farming, Rice Farming and Custom Applicator. We all assumed I would build my resume and move on. I wanted to write, take photos and travel…. I had big ideas. I just never knew that I could do all that (and I still do) and get to be on farms too.
Now here I am years later, having lived in metro New York and tiny rural towns, and I get the chance to visit the plains. I’m looking forward to going to a small town to talk about things that can be gained by participating in social media (post on #140conf Small Town). And I’m pumped that some college friends have said that may come to the event. Have you ever lived in a small town?
Wow, looking through these photos made me write far more than I should have…. and I’ve stayed up stayed than I should too. Til later!
You may enjoy Wordless or Wordful Wednesday efforts on other blogs too.
You made an Old Knight of Camelot cry! I live in a small town…Farmington, NM. Enid shaped me to the small town love… Phillips shaped me to the caring, loving friends of a lifetime.
Peace,
Andrew Hunter
Class of ’85
Didn’t mean to make you cry Andrew! But Thanks for what I consider very kind words for the photos & words I put together. Oh and thanks for that comfy sofa you gave me when you left PU… it was darn useful for years before I passed it along to someone!
Growing up and going to school in a small town (Enid, OK) has proven to be a grounding, anchoring force in my life and my career. I thank God everyday for allowing me the opportunity to know the truth of “god’s country” while allowing my wings to take me throughout “God’s Earth.” What can I tell you – there are GOOD people everywhere, in very different situations, speaking different languages but that welcome their brothers and sisters with open arms. Although the beliefs may be cataloged by different names, they distill down to the singular spark of our Creator. The differences among our religions and beliefs are like punctuation, not the narrative of beautiful prose.
Girl, you have so hit the nail on the head. I think Phillips gave me the uniquely incredible opportunity to meet so many people from different countries & cultures in a warm, accepting environment. Its one of the things that I wish we could find more readily in the world these days!
I grew up in a small town and graduated with 25. It’s certainly a different experience from growing up in a city. I’ve lived in decent sized cities before (Kansas City, Minneapolis area) but also went to college at a small campus in what many would consider a small town. Some people seem to dismiss small campuses and towns and they certainly have great things to offer.