“Small Towns can Have Big Dreamers”

A few days ago, I was thinking about my first day of college when I arrived on campus in Nashville, TN. Every time someone would ask me where did I grow up? I would respond by saying a small town outside of Greensboro. I knew that none of them had ever heard of my hometown therefore, I didn’t even bother to tell them.

As I grew older and began to travel the country and even outside of the US, I would still reference the bigger cities in NC as my home.

However, it’s always in those quiet, still moments that we have the opportunity to truly reflect on which life experiences have really shaped our lives.

One of the areas of my hometown was called “Draper”. My mom, my three brothers and I lived in some apartments there in which we all referred to as “the bricks”. I have so many funny as well as dramatic memories of that neighborhood but I honestly wouldn’t change anything about that experience.

That’s where I witnessed my first shootout. My mom was driving us to the store one evening and this guy who lived in the neighborhood was shooting at another member of his family. One of my best friends was caught in the crossfire, my mother ordered him to get into the car so that he could be out of harm’s way.

Then there were the more pleasant experiences….the Draper Recreation Center. Every day, my friends and I would get off of the school bus, stop by Elree’s Sweet Shoppe (LOL), buy their “world famous” oatmeal cookies and then head to the Rec. to play basketball. That was our little country club. We played sports year round….every sport…even baseball.

The good thing about growing up in my city was that every small neighborhood was an extension of our neighborhood. If we did something wrong on one side of town, news would travel back to our side of town before we made it home. It was even possible to get a few “whippings” before we got home, only to have our parents “whip” us again. This generation of children doesn’t know anything about that. (LOL)

I grew up with some amazing people, who are doing amazing things right now. Some of my best childhood friends are doing well and living out their dreams. Rob H. is an awesome school teacher, Corey M. is a nurse and entrepreneur, Ricco H. started his own car detailing business, Lorenzo S. has served our country for years and now has a son playing football for Texas A&M (73) and Illya W. is a medical doctor in CA.

I’m so proud of these guys and the many; many others who have overcome the odds and have not allowed their past challenges to dictate their future chances.

The hundreds of games of tackle football in Ms. Bunch’s backyard in the Blue Creek neighborhood, the times that the staff members at the Draper Rec. would encourage us, not just in sports but also in life, the many conversations that I had with my grandma on her front porch before she passed away and the many, many times that my mother would sit my younger brother and I at the foot of her bed and tell us that God loves us, have shaped my life more than anything that I’ve experienced. That is my foundation and that’s why I tackle the things that I do, the way that I do.

I absolutely love living in Charlotte, it’s been home for quite some time now. However, Eden, NC, area code 27288…population about 15, 460. That’s where I’m from yall.