Growing Up In A Small County

In chapter one titled “The Meaning of a School,” Mara Casey Tieken begins her book and the chapter by providing a vivid account of her experience in Vanleer, Tennessee, a rural school district, and how living there influenced her as an educator. During this time, Tieken became acquainted with ‘country living’ and adapted to many lifestyle changes. Through her experience, the author challenged the written misconceptions that educators and politicians create due to their lack of knowledge regarding rural school systems. Tieken further discussed the lack of attention that rural schools received in the political and educational sphere. Unfortunately, legislative policies, politicians, and educators geared their attention towards urban school

And similarly to the young boys of the Oakland study, I rebelled against the unjust punitive social controls punishing me despite my innocence and restricting my freedom, and I withdrew from the school despite its second place state ranking and the spot it would have guaranteed me at the number one high school in Tennessee. I started home-schooling instead, a decision that helped my stability but has also handicapped me to this

Growing up in rural North Carolina was both a blessing and a curse. My hometown, Fallston, North Carolina, is a tiny town way off the beaten path. Most people speak with a southern accent, are devout christians, vote Republican, think camouflage is a normal fashion pattern, and adore country music. But while I was a child, none of these things were a problem. I never realized how close-minded everyone was or how there were no opportunities for success; I was too concerned with the three most important events of the year: the Fallston FunFest, the Belwood Tractor Pull, and the Cleveland County Fair. However, as I grew older, zeal wore off and reality set in. I started to realize how conservative and restrictive it was. What little Fallston offered,

To put it simply, Geneve is quite reclusive. This being the affect of growing up in a semi-isolated area. She isn't fully anti-social, however she could go without much communication with others. She is a traditionalist, and believes in the ways she was raised on. Given, that's all she's ever known. Growing up in Halein, she became very accustomed to nature. Thus leading her to have a deeper connection with the world rather than humans. The Haleinian woman was raised by her father, Godfrey, along with her 3 elder brothers. Thus inheriting a few of their traits. Such as; a foul mouth, the ability to handle herself in a brawl, and the capability of surviving on her own. Geneve is thoroughly independent, only relying on herself. She would be classified

While it may sound cliché, it is pretty much true that everyone knows everyone else's business in a small town. This can be both comforting and concerning for a teenage girl. While it is nice to live in a place where everyone knows your name, it does not allow a great deal of room for error. Since my parents are both educators, they have always had a front row seat for who my friends were, what my grades were in my classes, and if I was causing any problems. I used to think this was a real burden to bear, but now that I am older I see that it has taught me some valuable lessons and shaped my personality for the better. It makes me think about my choices and if they are something that I would be proud for everyone to see. It makes me value close friends and people who know my history and where I came from and love me for all of it (or in spite of it!). It makes me understand that all actions have consequences, and I need to be prepared to deal with them with honesty and integrity. Living in a small town is much like being a movie star or a professional athlete. Everyone knows you, and some of them look up to you, so you need to live your life in a way that can be an example for

April 1, 2016 my family moved to Lancaster, CA. We had been living in the city of Inglewood

When I think about Mississippi, I think about our contriteness, the things we eat, and how family-oriented we are. We other people think of us, they think that we’re fat, dumb, and lazy. No other state is superior to one another. Down south we’re trying to live just as everyone else. The point I’m trying to make is, I don’t understand why we’re at the bottom of the bottom when it comes to education. There is so much hidden talent here in Mississippi. We have mathematicians, aspiring dancers, doctors, businessmen, and lawyers. You can give a school all the funds in the world, but knowledge has no price when you’re looking for best child interest.

Pike County has been my home my entire life. Over the last sixteen years I have seen it change in many splendid ways, but I feel that our county can do more to change for the better in the next few years and therefore benefit its citizens even more.

One year ago, my life changed forever. I walked into the same interview room and I stepped up on the same stage as these girls and I was blessed to have those few moments turned into a year of memories that I will never forget. I have had the amazing opportunity to participate in what I think is the greatest fair in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Russell County has definitely spoiled me, especially in terms of horse shows; I definitely will not ever settle for less after spending hour after addicting hour down in the arena. Russell County is also the only fair I have ever known to have a Special Needs Day and I am forever grateful to have been a part of a fair that is as passionate about the inclusion of those with special needs as I

Living and growing up in a small town is better than doing so in a big city.

I love my sweet old Johnston County, specially Smithfield North Carolina. It has been my hometown since the age of eight, since I came from another country everything was just so different. For some time I hated it but I soon learned to love it. I spend the rest of my childhood and my teenage years there, so it holds a special in my heart. However, as I was growing up there was not many people like me, and by that I mean hispanics. As more hispanics came to town I started to notice a little bit of discrimination and racism, ofcourse I love my town, therefore, at the beginning I denied it being a problem but I started to realized that it was indeed a problem. In all honesty it broke my heart to realized that my town was being discriminatory

I used to allow it to eat at me, but now I have became the strong, independent young woman I am proud to be. I have yet to move back to my mother’s house because of my friends. I have came thus far, and I will not give up this close to graduation, even though my mom is begging me to live with her. At one point in time, I was between houses, and different friends would take me in like family. One in particular, Emily, her and her family treated me like royalty and loved me to death. I love my friends like family and I strive to graduate from Thomas County Central, even when a better life is waiting for me at the lake.

I grew up in a small town of about 500 people. In my hometown it seemed as if everyone knew each other, so much so seeing a new face was a rarity. There weren't many commercially owned business, but an abundance of family owned businesses were present. The most popular thing to do in my hometown was to eat at Jay's Flying Pizza, one of the aforementioned family-owned businesses. Their pizza is outstanding, so much so the local newspaper, The Bridgewater Independent named it "The Best Pizza In Town".

Table 2 Variables used in Cloke's index of rurality (after Cloke, 1977; Cloke and Edwards, 1986)

The mass majority of individuals past the age of thirty seem to trivialize problems that a plethora of American youth suffer from today. Simply put, the French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry describes it best in his book, The Little Prince, in the quote, “All grown-ups were once children…but only few of them remember it.” We are inordinately exhausted from classes and extracurricular activities that promise college appeal, we are emotionally inept from the expectations of our family’s and peers, and we are despondent from the inability to caste away anxiety filled doubt at a future that seems implausible. My greatest contribution to my school and my community is my dedication to establish compassion and comfort for an improved quality of life. The known establishment of my human gifts to my region came about from my own experiences that caused a realization that various students in my community feel outcasted by our society. By creating a persona that promotes nondiscriminatory listening while also creating three clubs that perform as a safe space, I believe my greatest attribute to my small town of Forest City will endure the hardships of time.