Personal Narrative: A Small Town That Changed My Life

Growing up in rural North Carolina was both a blessing and a curse. My hometown, Fallston, North Carolina, is a tiny town way off the beaten path. Most people speak with a southern accent, are devout christians, vote Republican, think camouflage is a normal fashion pattern, and adore country music. But while I was a child, none of these things were a problem. I never realized how close-minded everyone was or how there were no opportunities for success; I was too concerned with the three most important events of the year: the Fallston FunFest, the Belwood Tractor Pull, and the Cleveland County Fair. However, as I grew older, zeal wore off and reality set in. I started to realize how conservative and restrictive it was. What little Fallston offered,

I stayed there for a yr and I didn't like it, I wanted to go home after one week of me being

Where I come from it's taking pride in your yard, knowing every single one of your neighbors, and leaving doors unlocked because there isn’t a thing to worry about. I find comfort in that small town feel, and I am more than proud to be from good ol’ Warrenton, Indiana. Here, we are just a wee bit shy of being big enough to be on a map, but we have a name and we have town lines. Within those lines nearly two hundred people have found a home, and thanks to Mr.Dave Gruible our community is steadily flourishing. There are now three subdivisions on the rise in addition to the church, salon, family restaurant, and campgrounds that nestled into the area years ago.

On 06/19/17, a t12:00pm, I Deputy Warden N. Christian was dispatched to 3251 Miriam Drive South on an injury-possible dangerous or vicious dog. I arrived at the location and was advised by The Columbus Division of Police (CPD) that the victim is being transported to Mount Carmel West Hospital (793 W State St) for her injuries and dog owner resides at the above location. I exited my vehicle and approached the dog owner. I spoke to dog owner Alex Kriglowitz and his wife. I asked Mr. Kriglowitz what transpired. He explained he was mowing his lawn and opened the side fence to mow the side yard. His dog was in the backyard. Mr. Kriglowitz completed mowing and forgot to close the gate. Mr. Kriglowtiz went inside the house and the next thing

It's been over five years since I have been home, to the north side of Chicago, I cannot believe it has changed so much in such a short time. The streets are filled with new buildings, new businesses, and so much snow. I don't remember the winters being this cold. Leaving Atlanta to go see my family in Chicago is a tough decision but I had to see my grandmother who is turning ninety years old this weekend and my family is throwing her a huge birthday party in Chinatown because my grand loves that culture and the food. I was supposed to meet the family right after I landed at O'Hare Airport. However, I needed to shower and change so I decided to check into the Peninsula Hotel, which I have always wanted to stay in, it is such a beautiful

In the small city of Harvill, there were a group of investigators. The six of them named Willy, Mary, Shawn, twins, Jojo and Carol, and I, Hubert. We solved many crimes though the one where had recently started was an interesting and puzzling one. We were the only ones qualified who could actually solve a case. There was a killer amuck.

I woke up on a warm sunny Saturday morning and went down stairs and called my friend Joey Gliech and said “Today is the day!”

I left my radio in the back room in was most likely with the volunteer who was covering for me. He yelled at me to "get up" and told me lets talk in Joshs' office (which was a few steps away). Daniel storms in Joshs' office, turns on the light and sits down in the office chair in front of the desk with his arms crossed and a sticky note in his hand. I follow him and prop the door open with the door stop is I say "lets keep the door open it's hot in here." The real reason I did this was because I was extremely uncomfortable. He then yells, "Do you want to tell me where you have been?". I was standing in the door way, not completely in the room when I told him that I met with HR. He asked very angrily who I got permission to leave from and then stated that I left my post without permission.

I HAD BEEN ASLEEP QUITE SOUNDLY FOR A COUPLE HOURS, WHEN I WAS AWOKEN BY AN ALL TOO FAMILIAR SOUND. IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY TIME MY BRAIN REGISTERED CERTAIN NOISES - EVEN WHEN I WAS DEEP IN SLEEP, IT SENT OFF A PANIC TRIGGER THAT FLOODED THROUGH MY MIND. THIS WAS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE TIMES.

I was born on April 24, 1994, in Los Angeles, California to Patricia Andrade and Francisco Javier Garcia. My father was an immigrant from Mexico, and mother was Mexican-American born in South Los Angeles. I was the first born in my family. I grew up in the small city of Walnut Park. Walnut Park is located near South Gate and Huntington Park. The demographics of the city were and still are predominantly Hispanic/Latino. Many of the residents were newly emigrated from various parts of Latin American, mainly from Mexico. I was brought up Catholic, which was the dominate religion in the area. I was brought up talking English and Spanish. I grew up in an environment that was rich in Mexican heritage but lacked diversity.

I don’t get why my sister is sending me here, sending me to rehab. Its not like I have a problem. Ok, I have a slight problem but that doesn’t mean I need to go to rehab for it. She thinks it will help me “get better”. I get so annoyed with her when she says that. All she ever says to me now is do this and you’ll get better, try harder and maybe things would work out. Try harder. You don’t think I’ve tried my whole life to fix the things that are wrong with me. I have. I fought every single day and nothing ever changed. I’m still the same way I was since I was little. I’m still messed up. I know I am but she can’t honestly think that rehab is going to help can she? I highly doubt it.

My life was not much different from the average person’s growing up. I had a mother, father, and two brothers. We had a dog. We went on family vacations. My brothers and I played sports together. I don’t really have much to complain about. It was all, for the most part, very normal.

First, after high school my plan is to attend at Santa Ana college. For right now I'm still deciding on what I want study for. In the future I will find a academy I want to study for. I wanted to attend at occ but I don’t have the money to go and pay for the classes. I wanted to join culinary arts at occ but again I can’t afford it, so that’s why I rather be at sac and get free education. While being at santa ana college i'm just going for my 2 years and then join culinary arts after.

One of my friends from camp is gender fluid. One day, they call me on the phone, crying, furiously thanking me. Their brother has finally agreed to start using their pronouns, claiming I had a conversation with him about gender fluidity. I have no memory of this specific conversation, but it still had a huge effect on one of my friend’s sanity and happiness. Even if your not consciously aware of it, your actions can make change. Improving a community isn’t solely done in giant leaps and bounds, but with smaller actions. Creating safe spaces for people, complementing people, providing representation, even picking up trash everyday can make a huge difference.

Eighteen years ago Julie Carol Parton (my loving mother) and Ric Parton (my inspirational father) brought Logan Parton (that's me) into this unique and vastly changing world. Little did I know that one day I was going to set immensely challenging goals to achieve. I grew up in a small town, near the corner of Indiana, known as Vevay. For the early portions of my life I lived on a middle sized farm with my family. There always was two different perspectives within our household. On one side of the house there was my father and my oldest sister Christina, and on the other side was my mother and my middle sister Melisa. The perspective that my father and oldest sister shared was that they both felt the want to make money and move away from Vevay, on the other side my mother and middle sister had the mindset of wanting to be farmers and