March 29, 2024

Best wishes, Jake Waddingham

From Janna Tull Steed

Creston

Best wishes to Jake Waddingham as he begins a new adventure in a new locale.

In his June 17 farewell column, Jake wrote: “I often felt like an outsider because of my desire to live in new places and learn new cultures.”

It takes courage to hold fast to personal dreams not shared or supported by people around you.

Jake will be the richer for acting with that courage as he branches out from his roots and continues his education at the graduate level. Creston would be the richer if its residents were more open to such aspirations and to some variety in its population.

As one who took a similar step away from my small town and even away from my home state at the age of 22, I can testify to the benefits of living in different places, exploring different vocations, and meeting people of different backgrounds and beliefs.

Like another journalist, Tom Brokaw, Jake can always value and celebrate the good things from his early years in the Midwest while finding his place in a larger sphere.

The novelist Thomas Wolfe wrote, “You can’t go home again,” which is another way of saying “…you cannot experience it again like this.” (John L. Parker) But home always goes with you in one way or another.

Godspeed, Jake.