“You’ve got to make the most of where you are, make connections and friendships wherever you are. Even in a small town with not a lot of opportunities, you can still make your own opportunities and go on to do what you want to do.” ~ Zach Anderson

Zach Anderson’s upbringing embodies the definition of idyllic small town life in such a way that you’d swear it couldn’t possibly exist outside of a Hallmark movie. He grew up in Canistota, South Dakota just as his parents had and his grandparents before them. Zach knew everybody in town, he felt he could go wherever he wanted in the community. He played most of the sports offered by his high school, including baseball, football, track and golf. There were 25 students in his high school’s graduating class, the majority of whom he’d known since they were in daycare together. His Dad owned the newspaper on Main Street and his grandparents farmed just outside of town. Zach worked his way from life guard to pool manager at the local swimming pool. “I thought I had all the opportunities I needed.” he says, reflecting on his upbringing. But of course, there often comes a time when the boy outgrows the town he grew up in.

And he did, but Zach took every small town skill and experience he had with him as he set out into the world and built a successful career in a much larger city. Today, he is happily married and a father of his own, doing his best to impart same small town values to his son.

But none of us get to live a perfect, challenge-free life. For Zach, the hardest obstacle came when his mom passed away after a battle with cancer last March. Of his mom, he says, “If you refer to life as a test, she had all the answers. She was the cheat code. She was the one I went to for anything that was difficult or hard. I referred to her as a superhero when I wrote for the newspaper in 7th grade and I still feel that way today. She had high expectations and I continue to try to make her proud.”

I look forward to my talk with Zach, we’ll discuss the joys of small town living and also explore the challenges that life sends our way.

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**Video broadcast available** on YouTube @imperfectbest

**Learn more about Jason Freeman** at AwkwardlyAwesome.com