Firm Handshakes & Ballet Shoes: A Hometown Girl Shares Her Story

Contributed By: Faith Dickson

Before I even knew what a municipal budget was, I knew what it felt like to carry a legacy.

Every few years after an election, our whole family would get dressed up to go down to Town Hall for my dad’s swearing-in ceremony. For me, that meant a brand-new dress, looking in the mirror, and feeling like I was part of something massive. For my dad, former Councilman Hank Dickson, it meant a suit, a deep breath, the family Bible, and a promise to serve his community with integrity. That Bible was serious business. It was in the family for generations, thick with history, and to a little kid, it felt like lifting a literal boulder. It was so heavy. But holding it steady while he took his oath was easily one of the coolest moments of my childhood. Going to Town Hall with my dad never got old, and through the years, former Mayor Dick Sears became another grandfather to me. He was a warm, permanent fixture in my life. My dad’s position as councilmember was all I knew growing up, and honestly, I loved it.

Saturday was my favorite day of the week. My dad would always take my brother and me out to breakfast, our quiet family time before the day got busy, and then we’d head straight to the Holly Springs Farmers Market. Walking through the market with him was like traveling with a local celebrity. He seemed to know every single person by name, and he made sure everyone felt seen. He’d introduce me to residents and literally taught me how to shake hands properly – firm, respectful, looking people right in the eye. My parents always hammered that home: you treat absolutely everyone with respect, no exceptions.

While my dad was busy with his duties as a councilman, my own world revolved around the Holly Springs School of Dance. I tried soccer once. I had a game in "The Pit," and honestly? I wanted absolutely no parts of it. I belonged on the stage doing ballet and tap, where the movement had purpose and precision.

I loved dancing, but it created a funny dilemma for me every December. The Happy Holly Days Parade is a big deal in Holly Springs, and every single year, I had to decide: do I dance in the parade with my friends, or do I ride on the official Town Council float with my dad? It was a tough call for a kid who loved performing and hanging out with her dad.

Eventually, the Holly Springs School of Dance took me way further than Main Street. It helped me check off a lifelong dream. In 2015, we found out we would be performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I had literally dreamed about this my whole life, and my parents were 100% behind me. Because it’s an expensive trip, we had to do a ton of fundraising to get there, but the Holly Springs community really backed us. I’m grateful for that. We went to New York City the week of Thanksgiving, and for a girl from North Carolina, Manhattan felt like an entirely new world. We got to see a few Broadway shows in between rehearsals, which was amazing, but nothing topped parade morning. That year, there were over 500 dancers from all over the country, and the energy was unlike anything I had ever experienced. We ended up performing in the lineup between Mariah Carey and Santa Claus. I remember crying tears of joy because it was the most amazing experience, and looking back, that was 100% my Super Bowl. But as incredible as New York was, coming home to Holly Springs felt even better.

In high school, I got my first real job at the Leslie-Alford Mims House, assisting with wedding planning and special events. I worked there for three or four years, and honestly, the Mims House made me who I am today. It was such a cool experience learning to manage high-stress situations, solve problems on the fly, and create beautiful moments for people. It completely shaped my career path. I ended up going to East Carolina University after graduation to study hospitality, applying everything I learned at the Mims House to my current career path in the field.

When I look back at growing up here, I realize how lucky I was. Holly Springs is a transformative place. It really does look and feel like a Hallmark Town, the kind of place where you want to settle down, slow down, and grow your own roots. I am so incredibly proud to be from the Town of Holly Springs.