By Frannie Edwards-Hughes
After spending part of his childhood in Tacoma, Vernon R. always felt a pull back to the West Coast. He spent many years in Colorado, living a fairly isolated life, and found himself longing for a sense of community and a deeper connection — things he felt he had lost. Now 28 years old, Vernon has returned to Tacoma after nearly 15 years, reconnecting with the city and rediscovering the person he left behind. He is our second feature in the “People of Tacoma” series, which draws inspiration from “Humans of New York.” This series celebrates human connection and aims to reclaim the essence of humanity through stories from the wider community.
Growing up, Vernon was a smart kid who struggled to find his passion. “I remember the word ‘smart’ being used a lot, but also usually in conjunction with ‘wasting his potential,’ which is absolutely true,” he admits. Without much to drive him, Vernon turned to video games. “All I cared about was video games. So I guess I got all the company I needed from that.”
Although he moved around a bit throughout Colorado, Vernon spent most of his childhood in Craig, a small, rural town of about 9,000 people. There, he attended a high school with a graduating class of 50. Uninspired by the scenic town and the people in Craig, Vernon kept to himself. While others might have called him lonely during his teenage years, Vernon didn’t mind being by himself. He wasn’t totally isolated, though. “I did date one person for a few years when I was younger.” He continued, “She was, I guess, probably my closest friend.” They started dating at 14 and split at 20. Even though they were together for a long time, Vernon always craved a deeper connection. That connection came later, with his best friend, Sawyer.
Vernon met Sawyer in a lab at the University of Washington Tacoma, where he studies environmental science. “In the first quarter I was at UW, we had two classes together,” Vernon says. He immediately felt a bond. “I think in the beginning, when we first met, the thing that made me feel like we really clicked was there was a mutual excitement. Usually, when I meet someone new that I feel like I could be good friends with, I’m really excited about it. She was the first person where I felt like she felt the same thing towards me, which was really wonderful,” he says. Despite knowing each other for less than a year, Vernon believes they will be lifelong friends.
Though Vernon enjoys his studies, he’s looking forward to finishing school. For now, he works as a security guard at an assisted living facility, a position he’s held for three years. His shifts as a security guard run from 4 p.m. to midnight, filling his days, but Vernon enjoys the structure. “I like being busy,” he says. “I think a few weekends ago, I actually had the whole weekend free. I had nothing to do,” he continued. “I did not like it.”
“If it was up to me, then I would like to do EPA compliance for the state,” he says, referencing his environmental science degree. When he’s not at work or studying, Vernon enjoys drawing, listening to music and watching movies. “I started drawing when I was a kid, but I stopped for a really long time. In the past six months or so, I’ve kind of gotten back into it again.” He expresses himself through his artwork and even tattoos some of his designs. “I have 15 tattoos, but I’ll be getting another one in a week, which I’m very excited about. It’s gonna be a sea star.”
Vernon’s personal style has evolved as well. During our interview, he wore all black, and when asked if this was typical for him, he explained, “I used to dress in a lot of colors, but I never felt like I was satisfied with my clothing.” About a year ago, Vernon adopted a style that he felt was more authentic to him.
Tacoma has become a place where Vernon not only feels more at home, but also where he sees the world in a positive light. While he’s not religious or spiritual, he embraces life with an open heart. “The world is pretty splendid as it is. Things happen for no reason, and that’s beautiful,” he reflects. He has found new meaning and purpose since moving back west.
“I’ve lived in a lot of places, and out of all, Tacoma was the only one that I felt like I wanted to stay,” Vernon says. Since returning, he’s grown in ways he didn’t expect. “I’ve done all kinds of things that I never would have thought I would have done. I embrace much more openly making mistakes and trying new things. Even if there’s something that I feel like I might not enjoy, unless I have a better reason not to do it, I give it a try. It’s a novel experience, and that’s something that I really treasure now, which is why I’m trying this.”