I’ve lived in Carlisle since first grade, so over ten years no. We were originally here as part of the Army War College and then came to be permanent residents. I attended Bellaire Elementary, Wilson Middle School, and now I’m a junior at Carlisle High School.

I love Carlisle and the closeness of those who live here. Somehow, we are all able to come together as a community while still remaining very diverse. Growing up here, near the War College and Dickinson College, has allowed me to meet and grow close to an amazing variety of people with different stories and life experiences. There’s always a place or event to go to in town, and most parts of the community are interconnected in some way. I am extremely grateful for the influences this town has had on me. I will forever be thankful for the opportunity to grow up here.

I think Carlisle, like the rest of our country, faces challenges when it comes to finding a middle ground. It’s easy to disregard the feelings of others because you yourself don’t feel the same. But, it’s important that we start conversations with our neighbors based around empathy. We must spark discussion to try and understand where people are coming from in order to effectively make progress.

In regards to our future as a community and our country as a whole, I hope that we eventually can do away with labels that have come to divide us as people. Regardless of your political ideology, gender, sexuality, or race, we are all neighbors living in the same space and we all want the best for our town and our country. I believe that focusing on a common goal will do more for Carlisle, and our country, than hanging ourselves up on our differences or things that separate us as people. – Aislinn Thomas, Junior at Carlisle High School