I grew up in a small town on the Oregon coast. There are some pros and some cons to it. I am glad I have grown up here. Because of growing up in a small town, I have always had the same peers since kindergarten. This factor has caused me to form some very strong and real relationships with them. My town feels like a family, and everyone is welcome. This has caused a great impact on myself as a person. It was also hard growing up there. The majority of my town is in poverty. My school has experienced budget cuts, to the point we had to remove things like the librarian. Seeing things like this happen has made me want to volunteer more where it is needed. I plan to come back next year after I graduate to volunteer hours as a librarian for free. I also grew up around people who are very one-minded. That's the thing about small towns: people tend to share the same views. Sometimes, when I don't share the opinion of those around me, I feel outcasted. I want to make a future where people don't have to feel that way anymore. My community is unique; we have people in it from all sorts of backgrounds and cultures. This has gotten me exposed to all these different things, and it is amazing. My community has shaped me into a person who believes in hope. I think the people around you have a huge impact on you, and this shows it. If I had grown up in a big city, with so many people in your graduating class it is hard to count, I wouldn't have the bonds that I have with my classmates today. I probably wouldn't care as much about our school system as I do now. Another interesting thing about my community is that most things are employee- or independently owned. A lot of people in my town tend to own their own business. Whether it's wool making, a restaurant, or even a thrift shop, there is something for everybody. This means I have interacted with and seen a lot of people getting to do what they love however they want. Seeing this made my goal of opening a cafe seem more real. It felt like it was actually possible, and now that I am fully pursuing it, I believe it definitely is.