You would be surprised who you come across in Beckley, West Virginia. Don't let the city's small population of less than 20,000 fool you. There is a large variety of people with an extensive range of mindsets living and interacting with one another here. Although I don't go get to go back often, I'm proud to say that I was one of them.

1. The People Who Have Been And Will Be In Beckley Forever

These people embrace all that is Beckley. Their parents are from here and their parents' parents are from here. They have no desire to live anywhere else and they're not going anywhere anytime soon.

2. Hard-working Teenagers

If they're not at school or working at a local fast-food joint, they're probably asleep. These teens just want to make as much money as they can and find the quickest way out of this city possible.

3. Strong, Single Moms

When I tell you they make it happen, believe me. They make it happen. Some work, go to school, and raise their kids simultaneously. They don't let the scars left behind from past relationships hold them back. Although they don't have much time for social, they still find a way to make the most out of their circumstances.

4. Transitory Folks

"Yeah, I just moved here from ______. I'll be down here for awhile until_______ happens". Transitory folk. They won't be here long and they'll spend most of their time in YOUR city telling you how much better wherever they came from is than Beckley. So much to the point that you might find yourself asking, " When did you say you were leaving again???"

5. Wannabe Thugs

I don't know what the younger part of my generation thinks it is, but it's not. When I came up, the idea of any serious criminal activity out of anyone our age was laughable. It was always well understood that things were way worse outside of Beckley and why not keep it that way? Boredom and lack of recreation are no excuse, but they are contributors to violence in our city. Regardless, knock it off.

6. Sweet Grannies

Of course, my grandmother was one of them. The presence of these kind, little old ladies is enough to make everybody act right and see the good in one another. But don't get it twisted. These grannies don't play. Act crazy if you want to, but I can guarantee that they've got a bible verse that will whip you right back into shape!

7. People With No Direction

These people are usually the main ones complaining about how much they hate living in Beckley yet never do anything about it. They make no effort to better themselves or grow in any way. Sad to say, but they're under this strong illusion they they're stuck in the city. They're kind of just here waiting on something to happen.

8. Hot Tamales

These girls, or "hot tamales" as my mom used to call them, are "fast". Most of them are below the age of 16, yet dress as though they are much older. If there's boys there, these girls are there. My mother would never let me go to their sleepovers and now I see why...

9. People Who Come And Go

Whether they visited each summer or moved in and out and in and right back out of Beckley, we all knew these people. It's best not to get to attached because you never know when they're going to go.

10. Wise Old Heads

These men are very similar to the people who have been in Beckley forever. The only difference is that they're been other places and experienced a lot as well. They typically use their insight to try to stir the younger crowd in the right direction. They're usually found sitting out on the porch with a cold one as they reminisce.

11. People Who Left And Never Looked Back

When you finally make it out of the city, it's so easy to become this person. I can feel myself becoming this person. That's not to say that I won't always appreciate Beckley for what it is and who it made me. I was born in Beckley. I have love for Beckley. But I can't stay in Beckley. Despite everything, I'm proud to look back and say that this is the place where I got my start.