Sunday, October 13, 2013

Welcome to the City



Sunrise in the Motor City
I’m Jessica, who went from being a County Fair Queen to a Devoted Detroit Enthusiast. If someone were to have asked me a few years ago if I ever thought I would end up where I am today, I’d probably tell them Detroit was at the bottom of my list, if it even made my list. However, as everyone knows a first hand experience and a leap of faith can change even the most doubtful mind. So through a series of fortunate events, I’ve found myself living in the heart of the Motor City... and absolutely loving every minute of it.

To give a little background, I grew up in a small town where the definition of a “traffic jam” was driving 15mph in your truck, behind a tractor blocking the 2 lane road during harvest season. It was quiet, serene and the smell of straw bales filled the air with each opening of the barn. It was a town where the front door was never locked and everyone knew everyone’s name. So why leave? Well besides the fact that my bachelors degree wasn’t going to help me find a job in the rural community, it was time for a change and it was time to take a chance.

Living in Detroit was a big change, but it’s a city that did give me a chance. I’ve been presented with countless opportunities to grow, learn, live and love while still holding onto my small town roots. It’s my goal with this blog to turn even the biggest skeptic into a believer because this is a city that’s ready to prove itself. I’ll be sharing my first hand experiences to show you Detroit is a city that’s constantly changing and it wants to show the world what it’s got. From events to history to beauty to the humble culture, you can almost feel the city tell you each time you step out onto the sidewalk, “You’re welcome… Love Always, Detroit” 
 
Love Always, Detroit

6 comments:

  1. Jessica, you make a very compelling case for being positive about Detroit, especially its current and future opportunities. It’s not just the financial opportunities, but the people and hard-working attitudes that help set it apart, as you illustrate. Detroit is a gem that is reinventing itself given disruptive changes, and it’s the compassion and emotions of Detroiters that sustains Detroit’s drive to succeed. Detroiters are welcoming and caring, and that helps guide Detroit’s future potential.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi James-
    Thanks for your encouraging feedback. I believe Detroit’s rebuild won’t be an easy or simple process due to the years of neglect. However, just in the couple years I’ve lived downtown I’ve seen the city transform at an incredible rate. If we can keep this momentum going there’s no telling what the next couple years will bring.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love this! I wanted to leave Detroit, and still do, but I know there is no place on Earth like it! so glad that it has embraced you and that you can now cal lit home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Brittney! I never thought I'd like living here as much as I do. I feel like I'm always discovering something new which keeps me coming back for more :)

      Delete
  4. I love this! I wanted to leave Detroit, and still do, but I know there is no place on Earth like it! so glad that it has embraced you and that you can now cal lit home.

    ReplyDelete