Any kind of move can be hard, whether to a new school, a new home, a new city, etc. Imagine changing all three at once at a young age. This kind of transition would be challenging and possibly even life-changing. Bridie McDonough experienced this degree of change in the seventh grade when she moved from Rocky Mount to Raleigh. Not only is this a move to a new school, home, and city, but a move from a small town to a big city, which can be unexpectedly different because there are certain stereotypes and personal attitudes associated with people from both backgrounds. Bridie exudes the caring nature associated with living in a small town, yet she breaks the small town stereotype as she has become open-minded and enthusiastic about new things as a result of her move from a small town to a big city.
When thinking of a small town, one may think of sheltered viewpoints, lack of worldly experience, and limited opportunities. There is such a contrast between the big city and a rural town, yet each has their positives and negatives. People choose to live in these different areas based on the way they grow up and their common preferences. Bridie has experienced both climates, yet still represents the mindset prevalent in rural areas. She has ridden on a plane once, and she has never even left the Eastern time zone. Bridie has also never become engrossed by the technology that has seemed to take over the twenty first century; she purchased her first cell phone, laptop, and digital camera this past summer. While this may seem crazy to some, there is something to be said for not becoming obsessed with this new technology. When people think of big cities, they imagine crowds of people rushing from place to place with their cell phone attached to their ear. The city has become impersonalized by technology, and these people have an unfriendly and almost rude reputation. On the other hand, small town people are known for being kind and caring. Because of the small feel, everyone knows everyone and really cares to know each other, which creates a sense of community. This characteristic is very evident in Bridie. She is genuine and real, characteristics which reside in small towns. Bridie is always friendly, for she truly cares about others. These qualities are hard to find in people who have lived in a big city their whole life, which is why Bridie exemplifies the small town girl.
When Bridie reached the seventh grade, her mother got a new job as an administrative assistant at the Duke School of Nursing, which relocated them to Raleigh, forcing her to adjust to living in a bigger city. Having to move schools as a seventh grader is hard enough, for the thought of change at a young age can be scary, but Bridie also needed to adjust to a bigger city environment. In Rocky Mount, she had been a minority at a poor, rural school where she received a below average education. Moving to Raleigh meant more educational opportunities paired with a yearning to learn and expand more. She enrolled in a privileged, diverse, and more laid-back school, and even as a seventh grader, she realized that she would have access to more opportunities in a bigger place with a better education. She described the move as easier than one would think. Even though she left behind the friends she met in kindergarten, the kids in Raleigh welcomed and accepted “the new girl” quickly. Bridie saw this as an opportunity to reinvent herself, for she has always been adventurous and enthusiastic about trying new things. However, it was not all smooth sailing. She describes stepping into Raleigh as “culture shock.” Having been used to Rocky Mount, Raleigh seemed huge and still does.
Bridie became more determined and enthusiastic as a result of her big move, and she is more aware of the wider world around her than she might have been had she remained in Rocky Mount. While she has never traveled, she hopes that her future career will take her all over the world. She describes herself as open-minded and eager to learn more through literature, music, and films. She loves meeting new people because new things and ideas fascinate her. These characteristics are not typically associated with the mindset of someone who grew up and lived in a small town. That is what makes Bridie different. Her move to Raleigh really opened her up to the world around her in a good way, which may not have been possible had she remained in Rocky Mount, yet she remains grounded and genuine despite her exposure to the city.
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