Personal Narrative: My Hometown Of Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Though I spent my entire life living in North Carolina I never thought of myself as a Southerner. My understanding of the Southern lifestyle was quite limited; there is an emphasis on family solidarity, and self-sufficiency with an agricultural backdrop that is part of their essence. The South is not simply a location, manners or customs it is a way of life. Hearing the childhood details of a favorite professor allowed me to envision a picture perfect life under the shade of a magnolia tree and little southern girl who grew up to be a Sandhills Community College professor, Mrs. Cole.

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,

The greasy scent of cheap burgers and fries wafted into the car as we pulled into the parking lot of a Wendy’s, right in the heart of who-knows-where, East Tennessee. I couldn’t contain my excitement as I rushed my 12-year-old self out of the minivan and into the palace of grease. Clad in ratty sweatpants and a t-shirt with my hair pressed down from my prolonged use of headphones, it was evident that I spent long hours sitting in a car, asking “if we’re there yet” too many times to count. In this moment, however, carving up Snowshoe Mountain on my snowboard didn’t seem as exciting as the machine that stood across the room. Standing tall, shiny, and red, the Coca-Cola Freestyle soda fountains were in the early stages of being released, and

In recent days I had the opportunity to go back to North Carolina for a few short days. There, with a heavy heart from a loss in the family, I had nothing else to look towards. I’ve always heard of individuals finding peace, faith, blessings, and love of Christ from attending church. I’ve never been a person who put their faith into a higher power. As I was growing up my parents never wanted to force me into any religion without me knowing everything about it and choosing which route to take on my own. As the years treaded on, I never bothered myself to learn about the many different religions and what each stands for. So I used this opportunity as mine to attend church for the very first time. I attended the Roman Catholic services held

The only state I have ever known as home is North Carolina. I was born and raised in Charlotte and the only time I have ever moved away was last year to start a new chapter of my life as a college student. Growing up in Charlotte has had such an impact on what I plan to do with my future. As a young child I always thought of Charlotte as the next best thing to New York City. I shortly realized after visiting that was not quite the case. New York City introduced me to a new world of opportunity.

You know what is really fun... doing what I did this summer! What I did this summer is go to Tennessee cabins. Tennessee cabins is a huge cabin of choice you stay in for as many nights as you book. The Tennessee cabin I went to was called Majestic springs. Majestics springs had a four jacuzzi baths ,and a hot tub.

Unlike many of my peers, I wasn’t raised in Montgomery County. I was born in Savannah, Georgia on September 10th 1997. After Georgia we lived in Anchorage, Alaska. During that time my now 16 year old sister, Asha was born. After Alaska we packed up and moved to Fairfield, Ohio. My now 11 year old sister, Malea was born there. That’s where I ended up spending almost 12 years there.After moving constantly when I was younger due to my mom being in the Army, it was nice to be stable somewhere. We ended up moving to Gaithersburg after my mom got a promotion in D.C. I started my Junior year at Quince Orchard very scared and nervous. Luckily, I met some amazing people that helped adjust to the move. The move to Gaithersburg made me realize that I

In the early morning, I awoke, drenched in a dulled sense of fear that had accumulated greatly over the past year and a half while working at the Loray Mill in the lowly populated town of Gastonia. The year was 1929, and things were starting to turn for the worse. At one point, the fear I felt nearly shook every bone in my body and threatened to snatch my breath away at any given moment. I was deathly afraid of losing my job like the thousand men already had. I was terrified of not being able to provide for my wife and children and being evicted from my home... Now, this insensible distress was replaced with greater, stronger emotions that engulfed my entire being.

I never thought a white woman from North Carolina could make a change. Back then, everywhere I went I can feel the town's eyes follow. You don't grow up thinking that your beliefs could/would change. Hell, you grow up thinking much of nothing down here. In North Carolina, the only thing you have time for is making money. So you can buy more time.

I grew up in Greenville South Carolina. Growing up in the south, I was always around people who are more traditional in viewpoints, especially when surrounding the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual/Transgender, Questioning, and more community. I went to a high school where no one hesitated to throw around extremely derogatory terms. I had friends who had expressed their feelings of not fitting into their biological sex, I felt bad for them because they lived in fear of people finding out and what their reactions might be. They constantly feared for their safety.

I grew up in Forestdale, Alabama no matter how far i go that’ll always be what i call home Birmingham made me who i am i made many mistakes there but I also had plenty accomplishments there to that is where i was brought up at i will always visit there. I will try to come there every chance I get and just hang out with old friends and talk with family like i use too when i was younger. It made me who I am because it was a place i’ve always felt safe and could call home no matter what happens i know that place will always be there for me and I will always have someone who loves me unconditionally and always be there for me I will always get greeted with a hug and a smile. The place i feel loved the most is my great aunt's house in Forestdale

One of my most enjoyable and exciting adventures was traveling to Destin, Florida. Walking on the extremely fine soft sand feels like paradise. Meanwhile, the sound of waves is crashing and the cool sea breeze brushes by. Along the beach stood a booth where tourist could register to go parasailing. My boyfriend Michael and I registered and anxiously awaited our turn. Suddenly, everyone was loaded onto a tiny boat in hopes of reaching a bigger boat out deeper. Reaching our destination everyone had to climb a rope ladder as it was moving with the rough waves. As they strapped us in, we prayed we could come back in one piece. As the boat slowly started to move I grasped the rope, realizing that an inch-thick string was the only thing between me

I have lived in Knightdale, North Carolina, since birth and in the same house for the past 12 years. Because of this, my map’s locations are almost entirely in Knightdale, though the map extends to downtown Raleigh. My map focuses on Hodge Road, as it includes my neighborhood, my friend’s old neighborhood, and my elementary school. Hodge Road also has the railroad, nature trail, and forested areas that I grew up around. Moving north, many places on my map are along Knightdale Boulevard: my mother’s office, my high school, my old gymnastics studio, and Knightdale Station Park. Over towards Raleigh, the locations are farther apart. Downtown Raleigh is west, featuring my middle school and my dad’s office, and to the northwest is my childhood church.

A great man once said, “I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility” (John Ruskin, unknown). Humble beginnings serve as a great foundation for people because it teaches you to be appreciative of the things that you may experience in life. Every person have their own life story but mine is the story of a typical man, growing up in Greenville, Alabama. I can write a book about myself, but since we do not have that much time, let me inform you a little about myself.

I have lived in the same good old town of Hazleton all my life. It's not a very big town, you could easily miss it if you weren’t paying attention. A massive number of 256 people live here. Most of those people are nosey too. Not much happens in Hazleton, but when it does everyone knows about it. The biggest event in my town had to be the Hazleton Railroad Wreck of 1897. A train ran right into the river because a washout caused the tracks to slide. I used to go to my Grandpa’s house and play by that river all the time in the summer. Overall, not a very exciting place, but it's where I grew up and it's where I love to be.