When looking back at my childhood, I think about the impact city-living has had on my life. I think it’s understood that growing up in the city is very different compared to growing up in a suburban community. The beauty of my experience is that there’s nothing traditional about living in the city of Atlanta.

One of the most important things I gained through living in the city was exposure to diversity. People often refer to Atlanta as a “melting pot,” which contributes to why I was exposed to many different cultures and ethnicities at a very young age. I quickly learned how important it is to respect and acknowledge every race and ethnicity equally. During school, we were taught about different religious holidays and their significance. At a very young age, it was essential for us to learn how to respect diversity in all aspects, and I am extremely thankful for those lessons.

Another thing I gained from growing up in the city was a sense of responsibility. Everyone in the city is, in some capacity, self-sufficient. As children, we were expected to be responsible early on. During middle school, my friends and I would walk to the closest Starbucks and (attempt) to do our homework while we waited for our parents to pick us up. While I was on the cross-country team, we were responsible for running from the middle school to Piedmont Park on our own for practices. Like most of my friends, I didn’t have a car, so I relied on Uber to get where I needed to go. Just as a teenager, I accumulated over 400 Uber rides. While this can sound a little obnoxious to some, it was my normal.

I also had the benefit of being introduced to many new and exciting things in the city. I believe it made me appreciate where I come from and the things I was fortunate enough to do. There is no such thing as a boring day in the city. Each day, especially in the summer, was an adventure. I always had the best time, even as a freshman without a car or a job. Throughout the year, events were always going on such as festivals or Friday night football games in Midtown. Atlanta really gave me some of the most fun childhood memories.

As I mentioned before, there’s nothing traditional about living in the city. Almost every day is different, everything moves at lightning speed, nothing is quiet, and you never see the stars at night. While my experience growing up may look a little different than most, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Be Well, Auburn.