I constantly get asked, “Why don’t you move off? What’s so good about Troy?” Honestly, that is an offensive question. Why wouldn’t I want to stay?

Troy, Alabama, is my home. I lived here my entire childhood, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to let that go. This is where I went to kindergarten and where I had my first kiss. I learned to drive on the streets of this town. I lived in a little house a street away from my life-long best friend. All these memories are ones that’ll keep with me forever.

Now that I have all those memories behind me, it’s time to start making new ones. I want to branch out in the community and learn new things about the people I’ve grown up with. I want to go relive my favorite adventures with my new friends, and show people why this town is so easy to live in, and easy to love.

Troy is home to so many opportunities. Everyone knows everyone, and everyone is so friendly. There are new businesses opening up around every corner, which makes finding a job easy. You’ll fall in love with the people you work with, and the people you meet everyday. The friendships you make here will be friendships you keep for the rest of your life.

My parents are here and as much as I want to say I’m an adult, I still need my Mom and Dad to help me out. They make me feel safe, give me a free place to stay, buy my food and love me unconditionally. As I'm growing up, I can go to them with anything and they are always there for me. Having them close to me is so convenient and keeps me involved in my family. This baby bird wants to stay in the nest for as long as she can!

This town has a lesson to teach to everyone who comes through. It teaches you who you are as a person, and it makes you appreciate the little things in life. Troy is beautiful all the way from the little downtown square to the buildings of Troy University. You don’t have to move off to learn more about who you want to be or to live life to the absolute fullest. Living in Troy is a blessing, and it can be magical. It’s all what you make of it. And if you give this town all of your heart, it’ll give it right back to you.

So when faced with the decision of staying or going, the choice was obvious. I’m not ready to leave my home just yet. So here’s to the next four years in the place I’ve grown to love!