Interview by Abernathy Cochran intern and Gainesville High senior Grady Vardeman
Meet Collin Kerr! Collin is a newer resident of Hall County and the area director for Young Life in Hall County. He and his wife Lydia are loving Gainesville and can’t wait to explore more Hall County and its hidden treasures! Outside of working and traveling, the couple spends time with their two dogs.: Walker and Henson.
We want to thank Collin for spending time with us recently and telling us more about his life and love of Hall County.
Question: Is Gainesville the first place you’ve worked with Young Life?
Answer: “Actually no, I’ve been on staff for six years now. I was in Birmingham for three years and that’s where I met my wife Lydia. Before that, I was a volunteer in Athens.”
Q: Where did you go to college?
A: “I went to the University of Georgia, I’m a huge Bulldogs fan.”
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
A: “Young Life really believes in showing up where people are, we never want to be people who sit in an office and wait for the people to show up. That’s why we’re always at the local high school sporting events. It’s something I believe in independently and Young Life creates a platform where I can do just that in ministry.”
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in Hall County and what do you love there?
A: “Eat at Thai and I love the Pad See Ew. It’s been hard for me because the owners are in Thailand right now getting spices, so it’s not open right now.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “Just over two years now, since July. We moved here July 15 to start this job then we got married Aug. 5, so almost three weeks after we moved here we got married, it was very fast-moving.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now where would it be? And why?
A: “Thailand for the food, but also my wife and I have a running list of places we want to go and Thailand is number one on that. Trying all the food and experiencing the culture just sounds so cool to me.”
Q: What was the first movie you remember seeing in the theatre?
A: “I can’t really remember the first movie I saw, but the first movie I remember being a big deal to me was ‘Toy Story.’ I remember the movie came out and then they came out with the book on tape and my mom says I could recite every word of it.”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “Everything that you’re looking for in life is found in developing and understanding in how much you’re loved by Jesus.”
Q: What is your favorite type of music and who would you like to see in concert?
A: “Well, I would sell my organs to see Frank Ocean in concert if that answers your question.”
Q: What current or former business make you think the most nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “Obviously the big chicken trucks going down Green Street remind me of Hall County, but what really makes me think of Hall County is Atlas Pizza. People sitting outside on the square enjoying one another is just special to me.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?
A: “Hanging out in the high school student section at all the football games.”
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I have a 200-gallon saltwater fish tank in my house. It’s one of my hobbies to keep it clean and everything.”
Q: What 3 words or phrases that come to mind when you think of the word Younglife?
A: “Jesus, friendship, and trust.”
Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?
A: “It would have to be a rom-com and Emma Stone would work great.”
