I grew up in a tiny town, knowing everyone who lived there – and almost everything that happened on any given day. You could find 90% of the town population at the football field every home game, and Sundays are a day of rest. Often times, I am amused when an outsider comes in and doesn’t understand how that works. Then again, I can’t really laugh because for a long time I didn’t understand either. I know now, though, and in all honesty… there’s no place on Earth like home.
To The People of My Hometown,
For the past nineteen years, I have loved the small town life—and at times, I have hated it as well. I never really understood why y’all were always stopping me in the parking lot of the dollar store, or the produce section of the Piggly Wiggly. I hate to admit it, but there were days when I found myself dodging your sight in the store when I didn’t have on makeup, or taking the Subway drive-thru so I didn’t have to go inside and face all of the questions I was sure to encounter. Like I said before, there is a lot I didn’t understand yet, and I guess it took me moving 160 miles from home to understand why exactly y’all are the way you are.
You see, when I got to Statesboro, I was overwhelmed. There are so many people, both locals and students, cramped into a town that seemed to be at least ten times the size of the place I have always called home. Walmart was a cold and scary place sometimes, because I knew nobody… and nobody knew me. I waved to drivers passing by out of habit, and got looks of confusion in return. I joked with waitresses at restaurants, and got crazy eyes for that as well. I began missing home, and on my first trip back… I couldn’t wait to go into the store and see a familiar face again.
Now, almost a year later, I understand. Ya’ll don’t ask me questions or stop to talk all of the time just for fun. You ask me questions about my life, and you talk to me every chance you get because you care. You have watched me grow up, and some of you have even watched my mama grow up, and you are my extended family in a way. You want me to succeed, because you have watched me struggle. You congratulate me because you are proud of me. You ask me about my life – now more than ever – because you miss me. And, in all honesty, I miss you, too.
If it weren’t for those of you who live in my hometown, I wouldn’t be the person I am. The teachers and administration who I grew up learning from taught me that teachers are indeed your parents while you are at school, and they never stop caring about you, even ten years down the road. My high school principal taught me that some pranks are just funny (sorry about the alarm clocks, Mr. Mathis), and that sometimes the sternest faces have the biggest hearts. The families of all my friends taught me that it’s okay to make last minute plans – as long as they’re approved in time. My peers taught me that family isn’t about blood, it’s about love. My graduating class taught me that when an outsider comes in and tries to break us, we stand firm. More importantly, growing up in the Bible-Belt taught me that God is the most important person that we will ever be lucky enough to know. I was blessed to know that just about everyone I encountered had a personal relationship with Him, and more importantly, He was everywhere… in schools, on the sports fields, and not only in my heart – but in the heart of the community.
So, to all of you beautiful people who have impacted my life at some point, I thank you. Thank you for accepting me, even on my worst days. Thank you for all of the congratulations I received for being on the honor roll, winning speech competitions, and everything else all the way to graduation. Thank you for being my extended family. Thank you for asking about college, about my family, and about everything else important to me. I thank you for loving me and for supporting me in all of my endeavors – including writing for the Odyssey. Most of all—I thank you for instilling a love for God in me, and for your prayers as I follow God’s plan for my life.
Love ya’ll,
The Small Town Girl
P.S. See you in a few weeks!
