Posts tagged friendship
Stay 731: Worth the Fight
Stay 731: Worth the Fight

I moved to Jackson a starry-eyed eighteen-year-old ready for the “real world.” I came to Union University to play volleyball and study my way to becoming a chemical engineer who would change the world with brains and athleticism. Three months into my first semester, I had quit volleyball and was failing at my chemistry courses. A few days into my second semester, a tornado blew away all my belongings, including those starry eyes.

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EssaysGuest ContributorJackson TN, Tennessee, Stay731, Olivia Abernathy, Jon Abernathy, Union University, volleyball, chemistry, tornado, Branson MO, Young Life, Christian, church, community, depression, loneliness, Waco TX, marriage, pregnancy, miscarriage, pain, loss, friendship, Women's History Month, Best of 2017
Hello Jackson: I-40 Exit 87 BBQ
Hello Jackson: I-40 Exit 87 BBQ

One of the many reasons that I started Hello Jackson was to create a resource for people traveling through West Tennessee to find local businesses to support. One of the places that is already pretty popular with travelers is the I-40 Exit 87 BBQ Stand. It is a food truck-style establishment with a lot of character. Growing up, I always associated barbecue with family gatherings. Any time we all got together, we went somewhere to get some delicious pulled pork and all the sides.

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Hello Jackson, ReviewsKristi WoodyJackson TN, Tennessee, local, local food, food, local restaurant, restaurant, local business, business, Kristi Woody, Hello Jackson, I-40, Exit 87, BBQ, barbecue, West Tennessee, travel, meat, pork, Southern, sandwich, lunch, family, St. Louis MO, ribs, hot dog, potato salad, chicken, Krey, bologna, sausage, nachos, Josh Wadley, Judy Wadley, hospitality, customer service, friendship, tourism, fundraiser, non-profit, #OurJacksonTable, Tourism Guide 2020
Stay 731: Becoming Strong
Stay 731: Becoming Strong

Strong is a word I used to hate. What does strong mean? What is strength? I feel like Pontius Pilate as I ask these kinds of questions. When I graduated from Union University a semester early, summa cum laude, I was called strong because I had achieved something. When I crawled out into the barren wasteland called the economy, I was called strong because even though I contemplated suicide, I kept trying to live.

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EssaysOlivia ChinJackson TN, Tennessee, Stay731, #stay731, Olivia Skelton, Katie Howerton, strength, strong, Union University, college, suicide, Starbucks, love, pain, relationship, Medon TN, West Tennessee, hometown, Trinity Christian Academy, writing, community, friendship, friends, family, Kierkegaard, hurt, The National, Women's History Month
Bringing Unity to the Community
Bringing Unity to the Community

Every April in Jackson, people from all over the area gather together by volunteering to contribute to the annual event “Month of Miracles.” Month of Miracles is a program started by Mayor Jerry Gist to give volunteers the opportunity to be connected to a service project that meets with their individual passions and interests. There are opportunities to help by painting, gardening, photography, and cleaning to just name a few.

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StoriesGuest UserJackson TN, Tennessee, Allison Burnett, Month of Miracles, Miracle Man, Younger Associates, spring, service, volunteer, event, Mayor Jerry Gist, gardening, cleaning, fun, family, community, Monique Merriweather, Neighborhood Services, church, Christian, Christianity, emergency, fire department, Jackson Fire Department, police, Jackson Police Department, crime, safety, Safe Neighborhood Task Force, unity, neighborhoods, diversity, relationship, friendship, friends, garden