Lynchburg: The Transitional City
May 28, 2019
Every year around this time, tears are shed in the Lynchburg community. It seems as though everyone has someone they’re saying goodbye to in May, most likely someone who has graduated from a college around here and is moving on with their lives. Coming from someone who has lived in Lynchburg for seven years, I’ve had my fair share of tears in May every year.
Each year, May can be a frustrating month. Some Mays are harder than others, and this one is one of those really tough ones. Two of our event supervisors at SA for the past two years, Marissa and Kay, graduated from grad school here at Liberty and are moving on to new jobs in Montana and California, respectively. How do we say goodbye to people that have become a part of daily life, people that are a part of your routine? It seems to never become easier, no matter how many times it has to be done.
It’s no secret that Lynchburg is a transitory city. It’s probably like that with every college town, but all of us Lynchburg graduates would agree there’s something different about this place. We may not have the most stores that close after 9pm, the most options for exploratory food, or the best parking situations around here. But something about Cook Out being the only restaurant open late has created a familiarity of friend groups with one another. And when it comes to Liberty, not being able to park close to class has probably led to some bus rides across campus with people you may have never known before. Community can be and has been bred in the moments of frustration we all share concerning Lynchburg’s quirks.
In moments of sadness about how quickly people come and go around here, it’s important to remember why being a part of this community is rewarding. While our team here at SA has lost a couple of our longstanding coworkers, we’re excited to welcome two new people to the position. Montana and California seem far, but now we all have new places to visit when we’re looking for our next vacation spots. As important as it is to embrace the sadness that comes with goodbyes, it’s equally as important to find optimism in the future.
As our friends travel far away from us, that’s what we’ll do – seek out the positives of change.