When I say I grew up in a small town, I mean it. Evergreen, North Carolina, located in the southeastern part of the state, has a population of about 250 people. In our four-way intersection of a town, there wasn’t much access to parks and recreation, but we did have a small baseball program. From the first time I stepped on a baseball field, I felt at peace. That is where I found comfort, created and fostered friendships, developed a work ethic, and learned a lot about myself as a young man. My world quickly began to revolve around not only the sport itself, but the maintenance and management that comes along with it. I even asked my little league coach to allow me to drag the baseball field with my four-wheeler after practice one day.

My story of becoming a park and recreation professional started when I was in college at East Carolina University. I graduated as a first-generation college student in the spring of 2019 with my bachelor’s degree in recreation and parks management. Growing up in a small town, I wasn’t exposed to all of the opportunities that parks and recreation had to offer and that you could actually make a career of it.

From my very first class with Dr. Murray, I knew that I had picked the right major. The more I learned about the field, the more I wanted to know. Throughout college, and even today, I have been very fortunate to learn from great mentors and leaders. I had many conversations with my advisors while in college, and I knew that with enough hard work, I could do anything. 

Soon after walking across the stage with my degree, reality set in. It was now my goal and mission to complete my internship and find a job in the real world. I had the opportunity to complete my capstone project while working with Ripken Baseball in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Growing up near the coast, I felt right at home, having grown up less than an hour away from where I was living and working.

During this time, I had made up my mind that I wanted to return to graduate school. In January 2020, I started my graduate program at Western Carolina University while working full-time. A few months had passed since starting grad school, and that was when the world was turned upside down. The COVID-19 pandemic had swept across the globe, and day-to-day life changed seemingly overnight. I never knew the series of events that would transpire and lead me to where I am today. 

Growing up in a small town, I had gotten comfortable and complacent with my environment, and for some that is okay. I had longed for the days that I could pick up and move away to start a life of my own. In April of 2020, I finally got that chance. I applied for many jobs and had a few interviews. I had interest from the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority, and they asked me to join the athletic department. At that particular time, I didn’t even know where Valdosta was on a map.

Several days passed and I received a phone call from the director offering me the job. I was so taken aback; I didn’t know how to respond initially. I believe my first words were, “Well, let me talk it over with my family, and I’ll get you an answer.” I knew then in my heart that I would take the job, but it wouldn’t be easy for me to explain that I would be moving six and a half hours away from everything and everyone that I knew. 

I have always been very ambitious, hardworking, and willing to do whatever it takes to reach my goals. It’s funny how it all happened — especially during a global pandemic — that I was even offered a job when most were sending people home. It was challenging, but I knew that to grow both personally and professionally, I had to do it. I have the mantra, “Be comfortable being uncomfortable,” and I did just that.

The moral of the story is: Always bet on yourself. You never know where life will take you if you don’t seize the opportunity. At this point, I have worked in Valdosta for a little more than three years, and during this time, I received a promotion, earned my Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) designation, and as of June 3, got married.

Never did I think that a small-town kid with a love of sports would be where I am today. Parks and recreation has given me opportunities that I otherwise would have never had, and I am thankful to be part of such a great community of people. Through my role in parks and recreation, I hope to provide kids with those same opportunities and experiences that helped shape me into who I am today. 

Chandler Nobles, MS, CPRP, is the athletics supervisor at Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority.

This blog post was written in partnership with the NRPA Young Professionals Network (YPN). Learn more about the NRPA YPN on NRPA Connect or on the YPN Facebook group.