Hello everyone! Training is officially over, and I’ve arrived in Johnson City, Tennessee. The past 2 weeks in Jonesville have been amazing, but being in Johnson City over the past 2 nights has been just as eventful.
In reflecting on my 2 weeks in Jonesville, I can hardly find the words to describe my experience. I met so many new people in such a short time, people I already consider close friends. I can’t imagine I will ever forget the community and individuals I interacted with while on the porch. I already miss the porch, but I am so excited to travel around and reconnect with my friends in their respective counties.
Arriving in Johnson City, I was welcomed by the staff of Washington County, and it’s already been a blast. I can tell that the instant bond we’ve shared will only strengthen throughout the summer. I am more than excited to traverse this summer with such great people.
I have learned a lot of things about myself, the communities I’ve been in, and the people around me since arriving in Virginia. I’ve experienced a lot of differing emotions and had a lot of time to think about how I’ve been living, and how I’ll live going forward. Being surrounded by people from all over America, and immersing myself in the communities of Jonesville, Pennington Gap, and Johnson City, has opened my eyes to so many new things.
I was able to tag along with the Washington County staff on a few of their Initial Home Visits today. I met and conversed with 3 different homeowners and their families. One interaction stood out to me specifically. One of the homeowners had their brother over to visit while the inspection took place. He was more mobile than the homeowners, so he allowed us into the basement and watched while the staff worked. He wasn’t very talkative at first, so I asked him what he did for work. This led to a long conversation about our hobbies, interests, and beliefs. He told me about his neighbor’s car collection, his family, and his interest in sports. He noted the rivalry between our favorite college teams and said that he thought that rivalries were foolish. He then told me that no matter how differing two people’s opinions can be, there is always room for friendship.
ASP’s theme this summer is “Love your neighbor”, and this interaction allowed me to prepare for how I would exemplify this idea. Loving your neighbor is looking past assumptions, stereotypes, and presumed differences. Everyone has stories, interests, hobbies, and unique personalities that are meant to be shared.
Over this summer, I hope to converse deeply with everyone I meet, learning about the things they love. I hope to encourage people to express their ideas, passions, and interests; especially those who may not get the chance to share these things often. I also hope to look past the differences I may see between myself and the people I interact with.
Until next time,
Jaxson Gage
Story Gathering Intern
