Lockney,

You have taught the people in your city limits many things. Most of these things are typical everyday lessons. For instance, if you lived in Lockney you have learned that you must show up to buffet days at Main Street Pizza on Tuesday BEFORE buffet starts because let’s face it, the entire town (and surrounding areas) will be there whether you want them to be or not. You learn that while at said buffet you may need to park about a block away and be prepared to wait in line for a while because the pizza is SO WORTH IT. You learn that Tastee Burger is just downright amazing, but unfortunately, you cannot eat a side of ranch fries as your meal all of the time (even though it seems very tempting.) If you think that trying to eat on Tuesday’s during buffet is bad, you should also try eating at Dairy Queen on Sunday after church. It seems to me when it comes to Lockney and food, there is a town meeting happening every day at lunch. Although these tips are important if you are trying to get around town during lunch, there are many other lessons that you have taught me and I am here to thank you for them.

Thank you for teaching me that reputation is not everything there is to know about a person.

One of the downsides of growing up a small town is that you have most likely known everyone you know since you were in kindergarten. Since you have known these people for so long, some of them tend to gain specific reputations. Some of us never manage to break out of our reputations (I am still obsessed with the color pink and I take pride in that), but everyone I got to know throughout high school was never easily defined by words. This is one lesson that I took with me when I left to college. I am continually trying to make my own judgments of people because Lockney taught me there is more to the people you meet than what you hear about them.

Thank you for giving me a place that I can rush to come home to every college break.

I've never felt so loved and embraced by a place than I have in my hometown. I will admit that I have not always felt this way, but driving past the Floyd County lines always makes me feel safe and secure no matter what I am going through. Everyone I know is always so welcoming when I arrive and I know that it is because of the amazing community that Lockney has.

Thank you for teaching me the importance of community.

One important thing that helped me define the word community was seeing how our little town of Lockney became in the face of tragedy. When our High School burned down in 2009, I had never seen the community support each other so much. This does not only apply to when tragedy strikes but also when some of our High School Students qualify for State meets. I have never seen any other town throw as big of a send off as Lockney does. The entire town always gathering on Main Street to support what our students love to do is breathtaking! I've learned that we're always stronger together and a little support really does go a long way. “We are Lockney. We will overcome.” We stand together and pull each other back up when we are down.

Thank you for teaching me how to fall and how to get back up.

One of the scariest things about small towns is that everyone thinks they know the personal details of your life, even when they really don't know the full story. High school knocked me down, kicked me to the side and then threw me in the gutters. Although I learned the hard way that people will believe anything and everything that is said about you whether it was true or not, I also learned how to overcome whatever obstacles came my way. I learned that being successful didn't mean being liked by everyone that you knew (although it took me a while to realize it); being successful means waking up every day and going to school and proving everyone else wrong. I learned that pushing yourself to do better than what people expected you to do would always mean more than giving up.

Thank you for providing the safety and security that every kid needs.

One of the best things about Lockney was that I was able to grow up in a place that was safer than anything. I have never felt more at ease sitting in my living room watching an episode of "Law and Order: SVU" with my mother in my home. I never felt as if I was in danger walking to school in the mornings or after school. Knowing that I knew somebody on almost every block in town made every adventure to Allsup’s with my siblings much safer.

Finally, thank you for loving me even when I hated you.

Before I left for college, I would never say I loved where I came from. I rushed through senior year of high school and although I went to a school that was only an hour and a half away, I felt as though that was still far enough away where if I mentioned your name, no one would know where I was talking about. But after being away for two and a half years, I can honestly say there is no place I'd be prouder to be from. Not everyone got to have the same hometown experiences that I did. Not everyone gets to look forward to coming home to a family that makes up an entire town. Even though having everyone know my name, my parents and my reputation is sometimes difficult, but it's comforting to know that I get to come home to a community that truly cares about my successes and my failures in life.

To everyone leaving Lockney, I promise you no matter what, you will miss it when you're gone. In light of everything that is going on in the world, life is too short not to love your life and take everything as it comes. Lockney provided me with everything I needed: love, support, and unity. Lockney challenged me and pushed me to be proud of the person I am today. No matter where I go in the world, I am now always proud to tell them where I come from.