For example, small town + inexperienced college graduate = few career opportunities. Right? Well, as more than one Tabor College grad who has decided to stick around for awhile has realized, a small town like Hillsboro can provide the perfect environment for launching-and even continuing-a career in a variety of fields.

Get hired on by a small business for one skill-say, reporting news-and you may soon find yourself getting to try your hand at other tasks: photography, copyediting and eventually even writing the editorial.

The chances to build your skill and experience base through volunteering are also endless. Where else but in a small town-and county-could a recent Tabor grad like Rachel Pederson (see our Dec. 13 edition) be an emergency medical technician, nursing student and volunteer firefighter-all at the same time? And in organizations like the Hillsboro Fire Department, residents who would in other places be too, well, advanced, for firefighting or other emergency work can continue to contribute to their community.

Yes, it's surprising to some students, but true: Small towns like Hillsboro can add up to big things. -LC