Big City VS. Small Town Living

Layla is interviewing her friends Haley and Persia about their experiences living in small towns and big cities. Haley enjoyed growing up in a small town because it was easy to make friends, but as she got older, it became annoying. Persia sees pros and cons to living in a big city, as there are more opportunities but it can be difficult to find a community. They both agree that big cities offer more opportunities, but there is also more competition. Small towns have a strong sense of community and are family-oriented. They also mention the differences in sports and extracurricular activities between small towns and big cities. Haley prefers living in the country and working in the city, while Persia wants to live outside the city but work in the city for the opportunities. They both value having a community and being connected to people. Hey guys, I'm Layla, and I'm here with two of my friends. I'm Haley. And I'm Persia. And I am going to ask them a couple questions about big city living versus small town. So Haley, where are you from? I'm from Blanco, Texas. Which is a small town there. Very small. Okay. And I'm from Dallas, which is pretty big. Okay. So first, I want to ask, do you like living in a small town, Haley? I think growing up, I got through when I was in 6th grade, so I think it was nice to know everybody and it was easier to make friends. But as I got older, it was kind of annoying. But it's just a difference in, like, interconnections. Yeah. And did you live in a small town before that, or was it? I lived, yeah. I've mostly been in small towns my whole life. Okay. And then Persia. Do you like living in big cities? I think there's pros and cons to it. Yeah. I think there's a lot you could do so much. However, though, I think I've said this before, I feel like you're very small compared to big cities. And so I feel like it's hard to find a community and connect, especially if you're more of an introverted person. You can really put yourself out there, and especially as a young adult, and trying to find your group, what you want to do, your life, find that. I feel like it's hard in a bigger city. But also, being in a big city has its pros. Well, shopping, places. And there's also more people to find if I do end up wanting to be extroverted and go out there and find people. So I feel like there's definitely pros and cons to that. Yeah. I feel like for me, because I am from Dallas, too, because I know you said, Haley, when I was talking to you a while ago, and you said that, or this might have been from the research that I did, like the poll or whatever, but you feel like Lubbock is not a big city. It's bigger than what you're used to. Okay. And then coming from Dallas, I feel like it's so small. And me, personally, I feel like I don't really like living in a small town. I like my big city. But I feel like, do you think that when it comes to opportunities for both of you, but first, Haley, do you think that there's more opportunities in a small city or a bigger city? I think there's more opportunities in a big city. Like, if you're just looking at the school aspect, our school only has so many AP courses or college courses offered, because there's not a lot around it. Like, the closest school is Austin. Oh, wow. So we have, like, the community college classes. And we have some ET courses. But compared to the advanced stuff other big schools have, it was like, there's people that, like, if they're going into nursing, like we are, they are already, like, certified and everything by the time they get out of high school. Yeah. That's in LA. That's in LA. I never did that. Yeah, me neither. Do you know what I wanted to do with my life? I wish I did take advantage of that. But, yeah. I never see that. Definitely different. Exactly. And it's, like, 20 minutes to get to our grocery store. Oh, wow. Yeah. So it's like a drive. That's actually crazy. You have to hop in the car five minutes to get to the grocery store. See, that's also why I like living in a bigger city. But when I did, because I had put, not like a poll, but like a, what would you call it? Survey. A survey on the TTU story. It had people, it was, like, questions about big city living or small towns. A lot of people said that there are more opportunities in a bigger city, but if you don't like the traffic, then it's probably not, like, you probably wouldn't like it because there's a lot of traffic. Right. But in my opinion, I feel like there's more opportunities in a bigger city, but it's, like, more competitive, I feel like. Yeah. But I feel like in a small town, if you wanted to, like how your mom created the daycare, I feel like, and she had to move so that she could get more, like, business. I feel like if you live in a smaller city, like, you could do more, like, niche things, I feel like. Or I feel like if you're looking for, like, a blue-collar job, like construction or something, you could find that in a smaller city, I feel like. I totally agree. I also, I think kind of, like, piggybacking off of what she said, I feel like, and I know I feel like the whole time I'm going to be, like, they're both the same thing. Yeah. But even, like, in a smaller town, right, I feel as if maybe it'll be more opportunity for you to grow. Mm-hmm. Because it's, like, if you, if I get a job in Dallas and I feel like everybody else is competing for the same job, the same, like, to, like, go up, is that what I said? Yeah, yeah. What's the word I'm looking for? It's not advances, but, like... Everyone's looking for the same... Yeah, but, like, also to get up, like, pay, like, just, like, get to work, whatever. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I feel like in, like, let's just say L.A., like, let's use that as an example. If it is a small city, like, it'll be easier and more opportunities for people to grow in the field that they're doing because there isn't that much competition. And also, yeah, there's not that much competition. And if you, like, everywhere, like, in Dallas, though, too, like, a part of it, everybody, like, it's such a big city, there's jobs kind of everywhere. Yeah. But in Lubbock, it's more, there's, it's a small city, so there's not that many jobs. However, like, it looks good because smaller pool, but, like, if you get accepted, that means, like, you're really good. Yeah. I don't know. I feel like also going with the job thing because I know for me, it took me, because even before moving out here, I think before August, I was trying to apply because I knew it would be hard to find a job here. And I didn't get a job until, what, two weeks ago? Yeah. I had been applying for, like, three months. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because also when I did the survey, too, a lot of people were saying that the cons of living in a, or the pros of living in a small town is that everybody knows everybody. Like, you know people. And then also I did, like, my own research, like, looking stuff up online. And a small town is definitely, like, very, very family-oriented. Like, every, it's, like, all about family. Right. I agree. And then in a bigger city, I mean, because I even read your thing whenever you put your thing in the survey, how, like, it's harder to find a community in a bigger city. Right. Right. Which I agree with. Yeah. Yeah. I feel like personally for me, my community is the family. Like, my family. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's definitely all, like, especially when you get into sports, I think that's the big difference. In big schools, you can only play, like, one sport. Yeah. Yeah. Their schedule's completely different from a small school. A small school, I can play three sports at the same time. It's all, like, it was just, it matched up differently than big schools where they have practice for this one sport all season instead of we do one sport and then we're into the next thing. Yeah. Right. Yeah. We just have, like, this same group of athletes that do everything. Yeah. So it's just really different in that aspect. Right. Would you, oh, go ahead. No, I'm just saying that. I totally see that. Yeah. So would you want to, like, so you like, you prefer living in a small city or would you consider ever living in a big city or want to live in a big city? Growing up, I've always wanted to live in the country somewhere and work in the city. Yeah. Because I don't think I would like living in the city considering the traffic, which, I mean, working is not going to be any better. Right. But it's still, I would like to be disconnected at some point, you know, when I come home. Yeah. I'd like to, because it's nice to still have, like, your community. Right. You'll know your people there. Mm-hmm. But the opportunities in the city, like, you can't beat those. Yeah. There's just so many. Yeah. Yeah. I 100% agree with that. I think one thing, like, yes, Dallas is a big city, but, like, there's suburbs in Dallas. Right. So, like, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Prosper, you know, all the way out. So, like, I see kind of that because you could move out. Like, I totally agree with that. That's basically what I want as well, because having that community is something that, at least, I feel like everybody craves, like, having friends, having people that you know. It's the inner circle. And people that you can live your life with, right, and who are going through the same things and whatnot. So I feel like I personally would want to, like, live, because I also can't do, like, traffic. I can't be, like, Dallas, Dallas, skyscrapers, like, living in, because my aunt and uncle, they live, like, in Dallas, like, in Highland Park. And so, like, their house, like, it's a big house, but, like, the land, like, there's literally no land. Their neighbors are literally right there. It's just, like, I don't know how to explain it to you. It's just, like, very interesting. So I could never, like, live in the city. You know what I'm saying? So I would definitely want to, like, live outside of the city, but for work. I don't mind commuting, right, and just going, like, in the city, because there are more opportunities. Yeah. Literally exactly what she said. Well, even with the land, like, growing up in a small town, I think you're more well-rounded on aspects of, like, wildlife, too. Yeah. You're around, like, I was in 4-H my whole life. Oh, what is that? It's, like, a country club, so you can, like, do archery, you can show animals, like, you can do shooting, like, all this stuff. And it's a club that, like, everybody's a part of. I have a question. Yeah. Is FSA the same thing? We had FSA at our school. But, yes, I was in FSA, too. Oh, okay, cool. I don't know if FSA does, like, shooting and stuff like that. I don't think they do, yeah. But it is basically the same thing. I also did FSA, so, like, you're in sports, FSA. You're very, like, connected to everything. Very connected to everything. Which I love. I love that. Also, another thing I feel like, too, I feel like a pro of living in a small town is I feel like since it is so family-oriented, people, everybody knows everybody, everyone's also, like, looking out for each other. Yes. 100%. And I feel like also in a bigger city, not that everyone's, like, worried about themselves, but everyone is worried about themselves. Yes. Unless you live in, like, one of my old neighborhoods, everyone did look out for each other. But I feel like it wasn't, like, I don't know, like, that small town. Right, right, right. I don't know. You can actually see that. Yeah. Like, if my parents couldn't make it to a game or something, some other mom would be on Facebook Live, like, showing up. They're, like, this is the person that would be in the comments section. Yeah. Like, I really love that. Yeah. And you're just, like, wow. I'm sorry. I'm just, like, I'm good. Yeah, the support is good. Yeah. I also feel like for me, I would live, I feel like I'm, like, a big, like, city girl. Like, I could live in the city if I wanted to. I feel like it would probably change after living there for, like, a year or two because of, like, the traffic and the noise and stuff. But, like, there's in McKinney, because I live in McKinney, but there's a part of McKinney where my grandma lives, and they, like, just built it up. But it's, like, you drive out there, and it's near, like, the Melissa area. I don't know if you know what I'm talking about, but you know what I'm talking about. Near the Bucky. Yes. And you drive out there, and there's houses on, like, big plots of land. Like, they have horses and chickens out there. Yeah. Yeah. But, like, they're still, Walmart's, like, ten minutes away from there. Five minutes. Five minutes. Yeah. Yeah. That's why I'm, like, wait, I could live here. Yeah. Yeah. I love that. Yeah. I really do. My conclusion is that it depends, what you said, like, it just depends on who you are. Right. I agree. If you would prefer living in a bigger city, or which one is better. Right. Bigger or smaller city. I think, based on, like, the conversation we had and everything, I just feel like it also depends on what you want in life. That's true. So, like, how you said that you could be able to live in a city for, like, a year, yeah, because at that point in your life, maybe you're, like, you're early 20s. Like, that's city life right here. Yeah. Uh-huh. So, like, I think, at one point, you can move out into, like, the suburbs or, like, wherever you want. So, I think it just depends who you are, what point of life you're in. Yeah. Yeah. Me too. I agree. Alrighty. Okay. So, that was the podcast. Thank you for listening, and have a good day.