Community acceptance makes transition easy
Two months and two weeks ago I uprooted my small-town life for an even smaller one in pursuit of my dream of influencing the world with my words.
To give you an idea of the scale of this change, I left a moderately rural county of approximately 103,000 people for a mostly rural county with 31,000 people. For those reading this who, like me, can’t do math in their heads (I majored in English for a reason, folks), that’s a population difference of about 72,000.
Sounds like a lot, right? Well, surprisingly enough, it doesn’t feel like a lot.
As an introverted person who clings desperately to her quiet alone time, I never cared much for all of the social opportunities available to me in my hometown. So, when I moved to Franklin County and discovered the different atmosphere, I wasn’t at all bothered. In fact, it made me fall in love with the place that much more.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of living in a small town with festivals, friendly people and a gazebo. That might sound odd, but for anyone who has watched Gilmore Girls as much as I have, it’s understandable.
I have found all of that here in Franklin County.
People always ask me if the transition was hard. The answer is no. Moving here was actually quite easy. Everyone has accepted me with open minds and hearts, and I’ve made friends in places that I wouldn’t have where I lived before – like the fire department and the chamber of commerce.
It has taken a little while for me to come out of my shell, but the close-knit community here made it easy. I have settled into a routine, which my Type A personality loves. Calvary Baptist Church has welcomed me with open arms, and I’m grateful for the people who have made it so easy for me to feel comfortable there. I’ve even settled into a gym routine at American Health and Fitness, which I would recommend to anyone because the staff is super-friendly and knowledgeable.
When I accepted this position as staff reporter at The Franklin County Times, they warned me that it would be a lot of work – and it has been. Some days are more of a challenge than others, but it’s that challenge that keeps me on my toes and wanting more. I am blessed to work with such an incredible group of people who have made this transition into my first job out of college an enjoyable experience.
I have learned a lot in the past two months, and I know that education will continue thanks to this community that has accepted me and taken care of me on my first venture away from home.
