In July of 2008, the New York Times published an article about college students who don’t leave town after they graduate. The article, by Brown grad Rachel Aviv, featured a picture of me set against the Providence skyline.

The caption under the photo was, “Come commencement, many linger for months or become townies for life. Megan Hall, a 2004 Brown graduate from Oregon, stayed on in Providence, R.I.” 

The article gave the impression that young graduates were loafing around their college towns until they found some direction. At the time, I was 26 and already a Fulbright Scholar and a full-time radio reporter.

I’m proud to say living in Rhode Island wasn’t a passing phase.