For better or worse, high school is an experience that stays with you for life. Navigating relationships, sports, locker combinations, new wheels…it can be a whirlwind for many. But growing up in small town Idaho – and attending a small high school – also adds a few extra challenges and rewards into the mix.

With graduation season inching closer, it’s time to take a look back at one of the most memorable periods of your life. And odds are, if you went to a small or rural high school in the Gem State you’ll recognize a few of these undeniable truths.

1. Friday night football is a HUGE DEAL.
Ed Shipul/Flickr
And the next town over is always the main rival.
2. Drivers ed. was a breeze because you had been driving tractors and lawn mowers since the day you graduated from Pull-Ups.
Kate Ter Haar/Flickr
3. But no matter your first vehicle after getting your license, you can bet there was some sort of gun rack on it.
Richard Masoner/Flickr
The commute to school crossed dangerous stretches of Idaho landscape.
4. FFA was life.
Idaho FFA Association
5. On your way to class, you said "hi" to at least ten fellow students, three teachers, a coach, and a custodian.
WFIU Public Radio/Flickr
It's a habit that never goes away, even in adulthood.
6. If you got in trouble at school, the whole town (and your parents) knew about it before you got home.
by Louis Ressel/Flickr
There are NO secrets in a small town.
7. You probably sat in the same spot for lunch all four years.
Robert S. Donovan/Flickr
And everyone knew that one student who had been there - well, a little longer than just four years.

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8. The new kid from the "Big City" was always instantly more popular than you could ever hope to be.
atrapadoenunpueblo/Flickr
"You had a different teacher for every class? Wow!"
9. The football coach was totally your 2nd period history teacher and the school librarian was also the lunch lady.
Noah Darnell/Flickr
10. Dating was a challenge...
Aaron Shumaker/Flickr
Either everyone in school was related to everyone else, or else your ex was also your best friend's ex and your brother's ex's little brother. Or something like that. It got weird.
11. Which meant breakups were front-page news by third period.
Mitchell Joyce/Flickr
12. The size of your graduating class was in the double digits, for sure.
U.S. Army Europe Images/Flickr
13. In fact, you probably graduated with the same people you met on the first day of kindergarten.
Bill Wilson/Flickr
14. And you definitely knew everybody's name.
Rex Roof/Flickr
15. Honestly, small town life is the best. And looking back, you wouldn't change a thing.
Michael J/Flickr

There’s plenty to love about growing up in small town, and for many, high school was one of them. What do you think? Speak up, small town ID grads! Bring on the nostalgia!

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