Appreciation for Champaign
It’s very common at Uni, and probably at other high schools in this area, for students to want to go to a college in a different city, maybe even a different state, because many students have lived in the CU area for almost their whole lives. Now I’m not saying everyone wants to leave, but I think I can make the generalization that many Uni students want a change of scenery. Like many of my peers, I’ve thought about going somewhere far for college, but I’ve realized that there are quite a few things I like about Champaign.
First, I’ve come to like Champaign’s size. I used to hate that it was so small, but I’ve realized that because it’s small, we have a tight-knit community where you get to know a lot of the people. There are only so many things you can do and places you can eat in Champaign. We tend to encounter the same people all the time and so we get to know each other. Almost every time I go somewhere, I see someone I know which sometimes can be awkward, but is usually a nice surprise. For example, I went to the mall on a Monday and saw an old friend that I hadn’t talked to since middle school. Later that week, I went to the mall and bumped into her again, and we started to text and talk. In a large city, there’s not a big chance to unexpectedly come across people you know and reconnect in this way. Another good thing about the size is that we don’t have traffic. Sometimes we complain about “Champaign traffic” when everyone is trying to get to school in the morning or get home in the evening, but in comparison to the traffic you would see in Chicago or New York, what we have to deal with is nothing.
Also, Champaign has a good location. There are big cities that are only a 2-3 hour car ride away, such as Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis. They are all close enough that you could go there for a weekend trip and enjoy the atmosphere of an extremely urbanized area, without having to deal with the traffic and noise on a day-to-day basis that people in big cities have to deal with.
The University of Illinois is also a big part of what makes Champaign special. U of I provides us with so many opportunities and resources that I sometimes don’t appreciate enough. Being near a college campus immerses us in what college life is like, and gives us an idea of what we might want in a college. Also, there are a lot of events and activities held on campus that everyone in the community can take part in. For example, the U of I hosts Engineering Open House every year and welcomes all ages. As a kid, I always went and saw advanced engineering projects that I would have never learned about if U of I wasn't a part of our community.
A couple of other underrated things that I like about Champaign that I want to mention really quickly: the sunsets, the relatively safe community, the corn, the proximity of everything, Krannert.
P.S. I’m not saying that I want to stay here after high school, but there are definitely things that I would miss if I left.
This is such a nice post. I agree that a lot of people take CU's plus sides for granted. I find CU a little boring, however, I remember my parents telling me the reason they settled in Champaign and didn't stay in New York is because it's a good environment for families. I'm grateful I don't have to worry about getting lost in a crowd or not being able to find some peace and quiet. CU is a great place to grow up in, but I wouldn't expect this place to attract people like how a big city does.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, every since I was able to experience life in a different state, I have been wanting to get out of CU as fast as possible. Recently, however, I have realized that I have been neglecting the positive things about living here. For example, I don't think I would've survived if I was brought up in a big city. One bad thing about CU, however, is the weather, something which we all should agree on.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right. CU is great, even if it seems a little monotone sometimes. I can't imagine living in a city, just because they're actually SO big! How do people survive? (CU is literally the biggest place I've ever lived in (that I remember) so maybe my perspective is a little skewed).
ReplyDeleteYou're right that Champaign has a lot to offer. A lot of us don't appreciate it because we're just so tired of the same thing year after year. You did a nice job of describing many of the tings that you, and probably the rest of us, would miss about this place if we left it. I rather enjoyed this quick overview. Maybe you should send it to that Illinois Tourism thing so they can use it to attract people here. (That was a joke, but they might pay you for it, so it's worth a shot.)
ReplyDeleteAfter living here for a few years, then moving to another state, and then moving back here again, I really do like Champaign. When I lived in a large city, I hated it because it took forever to get anywhere. If my friends and I wanted to go out and eat somewhere, we had to plan it days in advance and make sure we left our houses at the right time so we could avoid traffic. One of the cool things about Champaign is that you can easily go on spontaneous trips without worrying about ANY major traffic since it's a small town. We really do take the fact that we barely have any major traffic jams for granted.
ReplyDeleteI feel like so many people take CU for granted. Although there aren't as many things to do in Champaign-Urbana we are like a family. You go out the that mall and you see five people that you know. It is also easier to make an impact in CU and join communities because of the size. Great blog post Kristine!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really well-timed post for a lot of seniors i think because the Early Action deadline for U of I is coming up and it's time to decide whether we want that change of scenery or if Champaign is the place to stay. I think you're right in saying that Champaign's size makes it nice. I like that it's not too small also, we still have multiple large high schools and so there's some variety in who you see and meet. Also where else would have a festival for corn, that's pretty dope.
ReplyDeleteIt's true how much we all seem to prefer to talk about negatives. It was refreshing to read a positive perspective, and with a healthy amount of detail. Talking about the positives is probably healthier for us anyway, there's plenty of negative in the world, without us adding any more. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteChampaign is honestly quite nice. Much of the time big cities like New York or Chicago are so romanticized that I wished I could've grown up there, but like you said there are so many benefits to a small town like Champaign. I'm also amazed by how small a small town can get. Like Eureka Illinois is so tiny they view Chamapaign as not a "big city" but the place to go for things to do. Meanwhile I'm just looking for something to do. Great Post!
ReplyDeleteI like how you think Champaign is really small and boring. It's got a huge variety of things going on: even Krannert shows are so widely varied, and happen so often, that it's pretty easy to plan a night out. The lack of traffic compared to a big city is great and I prefer Champaign's overall aesthetic to that of Chicago or St. Louis. The buildings and lack of greenspace in many big cities gets depressing, but Champaign strikes a really pretty balance of "urban" and "natural".
ReplyDeleteBumping into people happens to a pleasant extent; you know some people, but not all of the people in town. And anonymized service is really nice. I love being able to go to a restaurant and not have the server asking me about my life and calling me by my first name.
As other commenters have said, it seems like people are always complaining about living here. I really like it here, though--there are lots of trees, a great college, and plenty of other stuff. While I would like to explore the world a bit as an adult, I wouldn't mind going to UIUC.
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I think I've talked to you about this before, but yeah definitely I think Champaign is pretty underrated. I think Champaign is a great town to live in, especially growing up, because it's pretty safe, and I think it has a good balance of greenery as well as more city-like features. If I had a kid I would probably want them to grow up in a place like Champaign. Also, I think the U of I is such a big asset that we often overlook.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I know that I want to leave Champaign for college. I've become too attached to the mountains and hiking to spend more time beside the cornfields. Regardless of that, I really love Champaign - Urbana and what it has to offer. The University provides, as you said, so many good opportunities, and I've found that most people who live here are pretty friendly. The one thing that is driving me away from Champaign is the lack of outdoor adventure nearby.
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