In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours.

~Mark Twain

Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!”

~Robin Williams

All of us have wonders hidden in our breasts, only needing circumstances to evoke them.

~ Charles Dickens

… a final comfort that is small, but not cold:  The heart is the only broken instrument that works.

~ T.E. Kalem

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.

— Amelia Earhart

Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another’s pain, life is not in vain.

– Helen Keller

After high school, I was able to attend Cloud County Community College in Concordia for two years. As I moved away from my home, I wasn’t sure what kind of environment I would be entering. But the residents of Concordia quickly reached out and welcomed me into their community.

One of the first memories I made within the community was volunteering as a children’s group leader at the Wesleyan Church. My faith is important to me, and I knew getting involved in a ministry early on would not only allow me to meet some of the locals, but it would provide accountability and encourage my own walk of faith. It turned out to be a great experience and I grew to know many of the families in the area. Since Concordians are deeply integrated in their community, I was able to see those families at the store, at college sporting events and other places around town, affirming the hometown atmosphere.

Within the college itself, there is a great sense of community. The faculty and staff are always wiling to give freely of their time and lend their advice. By their example I learned that a smile and a kind word go a long way. Whenever I see someone in the hallway, I try to smile at them and hold a positive attitude. This community consisting of the college affiliates and the town’s people are testaments to the power of a positive attitude.

That positive attitude translates to the businesses downtown, which makes various errands and shopping trips more enjoyable. From my favorite coffee shop, Jitters, to the melodic notes trickling from Tom’s Music House, browsing stores downtown is a leisure activity, and you’re sure to run into someone you know along the way.

In addition to the welcoming ambiance demonstrated by businesses downtown, the people in this area also have a charitable history. In World War II there was a prisoner-of-war encampment north of town. The German soldiers who came to Camp Concordia reported that their experiences were filled with educational opportunities, which included earning credit from the University of Kansas, and a chance to pay in the community band — surely a contrast to other prisoner-of-war establishments.

Both past and present Concordians have been eager to extend kindness to newcomers, and I’m grateful to have been a part of this community. As my time in Concordia concludes, I know I will be leaving behind a second home. The people here have made these two years incredible and I will always associate Concordia with its hospitality and generosity.

— Leah Hill is graduating this spring from Cloud County Community College, where she has served as a Resident Assistant. She is originally from Holton, Kan.