Why are you in Springfield Ohio over Las Vegas?!?!
Over the years I have developed almost a scripted answer to this question that states how I got recruited to Wittenberg for track and it was my best scholarship option and everything just kind of worked itself out after that and I am happy here.Now I do love Las vegas, i love going home and visiting my family, I love my house and my pool and the constant heat and sunshine, I just have a different kindof love for Springfield and a different vision for my life! No area is right or wrong this is just my personal opinion.
I am ready to honestly share why in the world I love Springfield and why I really don't want to leave in 10 little bullets.
1. I love the green
This is a very very minor reason, but it is so true. I love that there is grass and trees everywhere, flowers can grow, and people have to mow their lawns. When I picture my life with my family, and my future home I imagine a big yard, lots of real grass, maybe a trampoline, but plenty of room to play! I really enjoy the scenery, I love driving on the highway and seeing different areas filled with trees, or farms, different flowers and plants, there is so much beauty that you don't get in a desert and personally I really enjoy that fact.2. Yards
Another very very minor reason, but like I mentioned above, I have always wanted a house with a big yard, but also I want my yard, and house to be unique. Houses in Vegas are all newer, and look relatively the same just different shades of brown. I want a stone house, or a brick house, with a big yard and options! I want to have the option of having a fence around my yard, what kind of fence, and what kind plants I want! I love all of the different options for houses and yards and neighborhoods in Ohio and I want that freedom of choice and design!3. Small Town
I have always pictured myself living in a small town, and this may come as a shock to everyone but Vegas is not a small town. Springfield is big to some, and small to most, but it is literally the perfect size to me! I love going to the local pubs, restaurants, and grocery store and seeing people I know. I went to an event for work last week, and wasn't concerned with going alone because I knew I would run into SOMEONE I knew from somewhere and I did! That being said, it is also big enough that there are options for things to do and everyone isn't in everyones business. It is the perfect size for me because I get that small town feel but I am from Las Vegas after all and would not do well in a hobunk town that doesn't have a mall within 20 miles.
4. It is what you make it
Springfield is a town with its ups and downs like any other town, a lot would say theres more downs than ups, but it really is what you make it. It is so easy to complain that there is nothing to do, but it is even easier to explore and find the gems in this town! My first summer here I didn't have many friends, and worked nights so my days were open and got kind of lonely. I spent that summer exploring and really found a lot of things I loved doing. For example, the reservoir. Everyone knows its there, but it is soo undervalued. I spend so many summer days reading by the water catching some sun, or going on runs around the trails. I found so many new trails I loved to run on and so many coffee shops that I loved trying new coffees and talking to new people. If you branch out there actually is a lot to love!
5. It is a blank Canvas
Recently, someone told me Springfield is a blank canvas and it is SO TRUE. There is so much opportunity here. Small businesses are all around this town and the opportunity for entrepreneurship is high, difficult to succeed like any type of entrepreneurial venture, but there are so many needs this town has that can be fulfilled with some creativity! There are also a lot of community leaders that dedicate themselves to bettering the community, the owners of the Champion City Kings for example, all teamed up to buy the team so it could stay in town because it has so much potential to prosper in the community! There is a blank canvas for creation, restoration, and augmentation!6. Location, Location, Location
I have always loved the idea of a small town, but I am from Las Vegas and need a little civilization. Although there are no major shops in Springfield, and not too many options for a non chain restaurant or a starbucks (probably my biggest adjustment since my move lol) Springfield is right in the middle of Columbus and Dayton! A 20-40 minute drive is nothing for this Vegas girl who used to drive a half hour to school everyday! I have no problem driving 40 minutes to the greene or 20 minutes to Beavercreek to get my shopping fix or for a special date night. I am going to be working in Columbus in the fall which will allow me to explore some more of that area and I am really excited! 45 minutes is not bad and it is always nice to change it up no matter where you live. Even living in Las Vegas, sometimes we drive 30 minutes to go to our favorite restaurant or to watch my little brother play soccer, and the strip and mall were still a half hour away from me anyway so it honestly is not that much different!7. There's always a friendly face
No matter where I go, if I am alone or with a friend, I always see a friendly face when I go out somewhere in Springfield. I don't know if it is an Ohio thing, or a Midwestern thing, but people here are friendly to strangers! Not saying Las Vegas is full of buttheads that try to trip you on the sidewalk, but it is very rare to go somewhere and engage in small talk with your cashier or people in line with you. There is something calm about the attitude in people here that I really enjoy, people are not always acting in a hurry or too busy to socialize or do something so simple as hold the door open for you and say "Have a nice day" without knowing you. There are mean people and nice people in every city, but in my 4 years experience I see a lot of genuinely nice happy people here, and I appreciate that.8. Seasons
Ohio weather is not always ideal, in fact there might just be more bad weather days than good... but that also means when there is a nice sunny day, people eat it up!! I notice that after winter when the weather warms up and the first sight of sunshine appears, people sit on their front patios, have cookouts, and just genuinely enjoy being outside appreciating the nice days. Vegas doesn't get too much change and it is ALWAYS beautiful! This makes it a great place to visit year round and probably where I will get married so I don't have to plan around rain ;) But I really do enjoy the change of season, I love cool fall afternoons, and wearing light jackets, I enjoy the first snowfall and want my kids to experience a snow day, and spring is the most exciting time of year! I enjoy experiencing 4 seasons and want to raise my family with that opportunity.. but some of the nonstop Vegas sunshine wouldn't be bad as well.9. It is where I found myself
This reason is 120% cheesy but very very true. I am the typical girl who moved away to college and found herself. Wittenberg was the best decision I ever made and I am so grateful for all of the experiences and opportunities it gave me. I spent my first summer in Springfield after my sophomore year, I just got over a really bad breakup with my first serious boyfriend and I was so lonely at times. But the people I met in Springfield through the Champion City Kings, and all of the exploring I did on my own throughout the town, really helped me grow as an independent individual. I appreciated so many little things, and learned that I could be okay on my own, wherever life's journey took me. I had some crappy customers during my two years as a server, a lot of bad times, but I genuinely enjoyed serving and meeting so many other people that live in this community, I love running on new trails, finding new coffee shops and becoming a regular at our little places. I also found my current boyfriend who has the values I developed my summer of exploring Springfield and being on my own. We both appreciate the little things of this town, we understand perspectives of people, and are always looking for opportunities to grow. I really made a name for myself, and found a place to call home and that really really holds this place close to my heart.10. It taught me to be open minded
The fact that I came to Springfield, OH, a place so many people desire to leave and loathe so much, and I found happiness and made the absolute most of it, really shows me that I can never close the door to any opportunity, or any place! It is so easy to make a judgment of a person, place, job, community, even a restaurant! But you never know until you try for yourself, and living here truly showed that... so will I stay here forever? Maybe. Maybe not, but I will NEVER make any decisions on predetermined judgments others give me or at first glance, because if I had I would not be as happy as I am right now, and I am extremely happy here. :)Thanks so much for reading my extremely long post I hope it gave you an understanding into my decision and some perspective on our little town!
xoxo JC21
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