My name is Amber Stone, and I recently relocated to Fort Wayne after I accepted my job to become the first female morning show host in the city on Soft Rock 103.9. I decided to connect with Living Fort Wayne because of their mission to help further grow and revitalize this up and coming city. Being a “transplant” can be extremely difficult. My career requires you to be open-minded about living in different cities. Before my arrival, I lived in the small quaint city of Rutland, Vermont. Most of my friends did not fully understand why I was packing up my entire life to move to the land of maple syrup. There, I spent 4 years as I challenged myself more than I could have ever imagined. It’s never easy living in a new city, knowing absolutely nobody, and expecting to grow roots. Now my new challenge is like yours, to navigate a city that is also learning new things about itself at the same time.
So imagine the pressure that comes with the historical task of hosting the first female-led morning show in a brand new city. With this challenge, there are extra hurdles I have to overcome; one thing that is not an obstacle is knowing how to connect to my female audience. In my life, I have become up close and personal with adversity. Whether it was conquering body image issues and learning to love myself, finding inner peace & happiness, or understanding my past and how it’s made me the woman I am today. That being said, I am brand new to radio in this city, so while I am on my journey of women empowerment, I am building my audience as well as my professional network from scratch. If on some level you connect to what I am saying, then I can only hope you use this as a testimony to show that you are not alone.
Either you’re someone who is trying to find their way in a new city, or you’re trying to build your own professional brand in the community. I don’t care what anyone says, change is NEVER easy. However, as long as you have a good head on your shoulders and remain confident, you can get through it. There will be times when you’re lonely, questioning if you made the right decision or wondering how you’re going to survive in a brand new environment. My recommendation is to get involved in your new community. Check out your backyard: Google different events happening and meet new people. If you don’t go out and find things to do, it’s not going to come to your door. People in Fort Wayne love to talk about their food! Find restaurants that you might enjoy, and when the season is right, catch a Tincaps game. Find local businesses where you can window shop, and chat with the owners. Fort Wayne natives and transplants alike have a wonderful perspective of the city. Bottom line, you’re not alone. Others will/have gone through the same. Remember, what you put into your city and it’s experiences, is what you will get in return. Be on the lookout, I will share my next adventure in the city with you soon….
Amber Stone
