Topeka:: a pro/con list

As my first post on this blog, along with the rest of the Transform Topeka group, is my individualized pro/con list. I was taught to start and end with a positive pros, ideally going back and forth… so here it goes.

I moved to Topeka to marry my sweetheart in 1996. I always lived in Kansas small towns so Topeka offers a great deal to someone who lived about an hour from the closest mall (and as much as 3 hours in another town!) So, I love that there are lots of options for shopping and quality restaurants right here. I know that that seems a bit rudimentary. But there really are a number of fantastic options. My favorite local restaurant, for example, is the Brick Oven on Wanamaker.

Something that I miss from my small town living is the sense of community. Everyone did everything… (now that has its own set of pros and cons) and it never really seemed to be an ‘us and them’ mentality. When I lived in Marion, Friday was high school sports night and the whole town was there to support the teams. In Hesston, everyone showed up for the annual Another Bloomin’ Festival in the spring or Homecoming in the fall. While in that town, I lived the closest to larger cities with shopping and restaurants than ever before, but more often than not, the local businesses were really supported by the citizens. Sharon Springs was without doubt the smallest (we’re talking less than a thousand folks) little town that I lived in. But its strength is in the commitment of the families in that area to stay there and keep the town.

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  • denise
  • June 2nd, 2008
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  • Improvements, Vision
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The Good & the Bad of Topeka

I mooved to Topeka five years ago after graduating college. Topeka was not my first choice of places to live, but I had a good job opportunity here and my then boyfriend, now husband was working in Topeka for the family businees. It just made sense both personally & professionally that this was where i ws to start my career. I don’t know if I had intended to stay in Topeka as long as we have & potentially will, but I have been reflecting on what keeps me here.

Professionally, there are not as many choices of places to work, which can be frustrating and I am sure is a deterent for getting some young professionals here. Within my firm, being in a smaller market than say Kansas City, has given me the opportunity to advance quickly and have an important role in the business. I have also been able to meet a lot of professionals in Topeka. It is still small enough that most people are linked somehow and for only being here five years and starting at the bottom as a lowly intern, the network of people I know through my job is, at least to me, quite impressive. I don’t think I would have had the same opportunities to meet the caliber of people I have in a larger city.

Personally I have made Topeka my home. I love my house and neighborhood. Read the rest of this entry »