Living in a College Town

Beneficial or Boring?

Photo by Diogo Palhais on Unsplash

Since I was little, I have always loved growing up in Tallahassee, surrounded by football, tailgating and nothing but fun. Some of my fondest memories came from attending football games with my friends and family. As I got older, I realized that while football games and other events are fun, there is much more to gain from living in a town like this. I have benefited heavily from the endless camps I attended for my education and attending sports camps for fun.

Growing up one of my favorite things to do was go to Florida State University (FSU) football games. Cheering on my favorite team and choosing from the variety of greasy foods was my favorite part, but attending seminole football games is a universal experience when growing up in Tallahassee. Sporting events are one of the many opportunities that living in a college town offers because of the family friendly fun for all ages and arguably cheaper prices than pro sports games. Purchasing average college football tickets can run buyers anywhere from $30 to a couple hundred dollars, whereas purchasing NFL tickets can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to more. Before many sports games, another option as well as attending the games are the tailgates, which are big gatherings of people involving food, games and more to get fans excited for the upcoming game. Living close to this action offers fun sports events for the whole family or groups of friends to attend during the week or on the weekends. Experiencing these events was one of my favorite parts of living in a college town while growing up.

Along with sports, one of the many benefits of living in a college town is the events and attractions these towns offer. In Tallahassee, one of the popular annual events is the FSU Flying High Circus. The circus was one of my favorite places to go when I was younger because of the mesmerizing skill the performers displayed and the magical atmosphere the event provided. The circus is performed by FSU students and includes on ground and in air tricks and routines. This event has been a tradition for over 75 years and takes place every spring on campus. Another performing arts event is the Opening Nights at FSU. The purpose of this event is to bring renowned and experienced artists into Tallahassee to inspire and teach the community on and off of campus. Bringing professionals into a community to teach students and others strengthens and creates bonds especially on college campuses. This is perfect for a city like Tallahassee because these opportunities are available for students and for others living in the community to enjoy.

One of the most important aspects of living near a university is all the amazing academic opportunities these schools present. When I was a junior I found out about an internship opportunity with the FSU psychology department, with that being what I want to major in, I know I will take advantage of that in the future. Florida State is one of the many schools that offer internships and academic opportunities to college students and high school students. FSU offers pre-college programs, camps, internships and programs for younger students looking to further their education and deepen their knowledge in a variety of topics ranging from core classes to more advanced topics such as psychology.

A common concern that is raised when it comes to living in a college town is that they do not offer many events for older locals. While these cities, including Tallahassee, may seem like a city geared towards accommodating college aged people, there are many events and opportunities for older locals. Sporting events, tailgates and performing arts events are just a few events held in Tallahassee for all ages.

While there are pros and cons to living in a college town, I have experienced nothing but positive things from it. I have participated in camps and other educational opportunities as well as many events sponsored by FSU. Some people may not think there are many fun opportunities to participate in when in college towns but in reality there are endless events to partake in. Living in the same town as a big university has many benefits for children,  students, adults and the entire community.