As part of the Nebraska Community Foundation’s Summer Hometown Intern program, the

college interns are asked to write “love letters” to their hometown, sharing what they love about

the community they call home.

Natalie Roberts, a 2023 McCook High School graduate, was one of two interns for the McCook

Community Foundation Fund during the summer of 2025. Natalie was also a member of Youth

Change Reaction, MCFF’s youth group, and chronicles how her feelings for her hometown have

evolved.

Dear McCook,

In high school, I thought success was measured by how many miles I could get away from you,

even though you gave me everything: the best childhood, my best friends, my fondest

memories. I always thought of you as a good place “for now,” but I always felt an internal thirst

to get out, and see the world. I thought that this town‘s main goal was to trap me and stunt my

growth.

When Ronda Graff (coordinator for MCFF) asked me if I wanted to be a Hometown Intern, I was

hesitant to take the position. But with a little bit of coercion, I decided it would be a good

opportunity to build on my interpersonal and leadership skills and broaden my horizons. It took

me one whole week of being a Hometown Intern to realize that I’d been wrong about my small

hometown for my entire life. The town that I used to see as a reminder of the person I was in the

past became a symbol of my growth and my potential.

I started to realize that my hometown was made up of people and traditions that make up the

mosaic that is my life. The person reading this letter today is a product of McCook, Nebraska,

and the people who call it home. I punch the roof of my car every time I go under a yellow light,

because that’s what my best friend, Joy, did whenever we drove around way too late on school

nights with McFlurries in hand. I will never mix up “there” and “their” because of the constant

pestering of my sixth grade English teacher, Mrs. Kain. My love for the Lincoln Farmer’s Market

stemmed from my favorite memories of walking around Norris Park while it was filled with

vendors during Heritage Days. And I live by the motto, “work hard, and be nice to people,”

because that is the sign that hung in the mudroom of my childhood home.

This internship has completely shifted my perspective on McCook.

Instead of asking, “How fast can I leave this town?” I am now asking, “How fast can I return?”

I’m still an advocate for leaving your hometown to explore, because I think it’s a great way to

broaden your horizons and bring back fresh ideas to your community. But I also know that my

home will be here for me when I return.

As a busy and very driven college student, I find it hard to be fully present. But on my first trip

back home during my freshman year of college, I realized time just moves slower here. In

McCook, there’s time to have those impromptu conversations with old friends. There is time to

browse our local stores with no shopping list. There is time to sit outside and just be. There is

time to be human and what a beautiful thing that is!

This internship has revived my love for community, my love for Nebraska, and of course, my

love for McCook. My growth this summer would not have been possible without the MCFF

Advisory Committee members who took a chance on me despite my crazy, busy schedule.

Thank you so much Cindy Huff, Coach Jeff Gross, Ronda, and the rest of the FAC. You all

inspire me more than you know.

My fellow intern and friend, Lucas Gomez-Wilson, was also a huge inspiration to me this

summer because of the way he lights up when he talks about McCook. Lucas is returning to our

high school to teach math after college. Let me tell you, his students are going to be so lucky to

have him.

Lastly, I could not have gained this new perspective without my fellow community members.

These people are just so devoted and willing to do whatever they can to make McCook an even

better place to live, learn, and grow. It truly is “the people that make the place.”

With Love,

Natalie Roberts