I had no idea how much Liberty County would impact my life when my family moved to the area in 2003.

Moving from New York to Georgia was quite a change — a very big change. I finished high school at Liberty County High School and went to the University of Georgia to pursue journalism. Like many college graduates, I came home jobless and started looking for work. I had my sights set on anywhere but here. After being rejected from some jobs, I swallowed my pride and decided to search locally. That’s when I started at the Courier in the summer of 2014 as a freelancer and eventually became a full-time staff reporter.

Boy, has it been interesting.

Working for the newspaper and managing Liberty Life Magazine has been an experience college courses can’t fully prepare you for. It’s one of those jobs you have to dive into and learn as you go.

During my time here I’ve received angry phone calls and emails, heard crude jokes, snide comments and the most ridiculous assumptions about what we do at the newspaper. But I’ve also encountered appreciative community members and officials thanking us for our coverage.

It’s definitely been a journey and I’m so thankful for all the ups and downs, which is why this is bittersweet for me. I will no longer be a reporter with the Coastal Courier and have accepted a new job opportunity.

I am definitely taking all my experiences with me, and actually it’s been my experiences serving you, the public, which has prepared me for the future.

I really didn’t care to know anything about Liberty County when I first arrived here. I was a teenager and only thought about the friends I left behind, going from eight classes to block scheduling, what seemed like never-ending heat and the incessant bug bites that made my arms look like I could grate cheese.

Working as a reporter, getting the inside scoop on new businesses, reporting on conflicts, highlighting achievements and helping to raise awareness on important topics has given me an appreciation of Liberty County.

I’ve come to value our history, culture, military presence, development and odd happenings. No community is perfect, but I’m happy to be a part of this imperfect community, and you all have helped me see that.

I just want to say goodbye and thank you to the Liberty County residents and local officials for allowing me to serve you through the news.

To the staff of the Coastal Courier and anyone who worked here during my time, thank you so much for all your support and laughter when we had late nights, weird requests and unforeseeable circumstances.

I’ll still be in the area. You’ll probably catch me at Walmart, Hobby Lobby or the upcoming Christmas parade.

Thanks everyone.

— Tiffany King

Editor’s note: King is moving on to a job with the College of Coastal Georgia. She was both a reporter for the Courier and editor of Liberty Life Magazine. We’ll miss her work and her presence on our staff. And, we wish her all the best.