When I shipped off to college in fall of 2001, I didn’t take the traditional route. I lived off campus in an apartment with some close friends.

Unlike most students moving away from home, I didn’t experience life in the dorms and while I did work for the student newspaper and made friends with some folks in my field of study, my time on campus was probably much less than those whose social lives were centered on campus.

I think it allowed me to take in what Buffalo had to offer on a deeper level than many of my fellow students.

I’m in no way saying that one experience is better than another, as I’m sure I missed out on some of the security, safety and friendships campus life offers, but I think I saw a lot more of the area because of my situation.

What was nice about Buffalo, especially in the Elmwood and University areas of the city is that local businesses, restaurants and community groups made strong efforts to attract students into the community.

Student discounts were nice, as were friendly folks who shared with me the best chicken wings in Buffalo, shout out to Gabriel’s Gate, and other fun little gems I could have easily missed. I found myself volunteering with some groups who shared food with the homeless and helped some community centers in the area.

In St. Lawrence County, we are fortunate enough to have four universities. All four colleges play a significant role in the community as some of the county’s largest employers.

In just a week or two, the populations of Canton and Potsdam will grow by thousands as students return for the fall semester.

The streets will be full of young adults who come from areas that are often a lot different than St. Lawrence County.

Our area benefits greatly from the commerce they bring, especially if they feel comfortable venturing off of their respective campuses.

So let’s welcome them. Say hello, swap stories and offer some friendship. One of the most interesting things about the college social experience is the incredible diversity of backgrounds and stories of how people ended up at the same place I had.

I learned a lot about other parts of the world from simple conversations with fellow students.

Talk with them about your favorite places to hike, paddle and swim. Let them know that with a short trip, they can be off in the Adirondacks, ride go-carts or visit Canada.

Let’s make sure they know about our beaches, nature centers, libraries, concert series and eateries.

Local schools, nonprofits and volunteer organizations might find some extra help by reaching out to students who are looking for ways to meet people and explore St. Lawrence County.

Things we may take for granted here might be amazing to them. After all, not every village has a deer population accustomed to village life, but we do.

I’m sure that organizations like the Chamber of Commerce work with local businesses to draw on the student population and I certainly hope our local businesses are taking advantage of the wider customer base.

Many of those who choose to live in the North Country have done so because we like it here. We know what the area has to offer and we’ve likely given up opportunities to stay here.

Let’s show them why St. Lawrence County is a great place to be and maybe, just maybe we’ll convince some young minds to stay in the area when they finish their studies.

Jimmy Lawton is news editor of North Country This Week and NorthCountryNow.com.