Anthony Galli

Being born in my hometown happened by coincidence, not choice. My dad was in the military for about twenty years, so moving between cities was regular for him. When I was five years old, my family was stationed in our final city, Columbus, Georgia. This is one of the largest cities in Georgia, but sometimes feels like the smallest. Growing up in Columbus, I always expressed feelings of distaste for it and frequently complained. I always knew too many people everywhere I went and often felt like there was nothing for me. I always thought I was too good for the city because I am not the typical southern girl and had different interests than most. As I was about to leave for college, I drove around and realized that Columbus is my home and always will be. It has so much more to it than just a southern city in West Georgia. It gave me room to grow and encounter a variety of people. I wasted so much of my time not appreciating the many sights and memories created in my hometown. Columbus, Georgia gave me a place to grow up in and somewhere I can always go back to and feel comfortable.