Coming Home: Tonia West on Belonging, Growth, and Youth Empowerment
Watch Episode 20 of
The Max Loves Midland Show
Tonia West, In Her Own Words:
“I first moved to Midland in 1994. My dad, a retired Marine, had decided it was time to settle down after a handful of relocations. He scouted out the town and thought it was the perfect place to raise a family. The other option was California, but the cost of living and the appeal of a quieter, more stable environment made Midland the obvious choice.
When we moved from a military base in California, I was in ninth grade. The transition was rough. California felt so much more progressive, and even style-wise, it was ahead by what felt like ten years. I stood out immediately, and not in a good way. I was bullied and often felt isolated.
Despite those challenges, some teachers saw something in me, people who told me not to give up. They recognized my writing talent and gently pushed me toward journalism. I started writing for the Midland High School newspaper, Focus, and eventually became an editor in my senior year—without even applying. My advisor had secretly submitted my name, believing in me more than I believed in myself. That led to an editorship at The Delta Collegiate, then work at The Saginaw News and The Midland Daily News. Writing opened doors I never expected.
By 27, I was ready for a change and moved to the Washington D.C. area. It was a personal goal—my dream had always been to write for a big paper like The Washington Post. But over time, I realized that a career in journalism wasn't for me. Instead, I leaned into the graphic design skills I had picked up. I found a job in advertising design, working on everything from magazines to book layouts. It was a good job, though not one that would ever buy me a house in D.C.'s expensive market. Still, I was proud of where I worked and what I learned there.
Thanks to my husband Aaron's career, life eventually took us to Knoxville, Tennessee. We stayed there for ten years, raising our daughter and enjoying a slower pace of life. But something was missing. We wanted our daughter to grow up near family. My parents were getting older, and her cousins were in Midland. One day, it just clicked—we needed to go back. Within two or three months, we made the move.
Coming back to Midland as an adult was a strange feeling. I had spent so much time wanting to leave, and now here I was, choosing to return. I worried about how I would fit in, how the community had changed, and whether it would feel like home. But almost immediately, I was embraced.
I volunteered at my daughter's school, Siebert Elementary, helping in the media center, reshelving books, creating activities, and designing bulletin boards. That small step led to a surprising chain of events. The librarian suggested I apply to be a substitute paraprofessional and was hired within the month. That experience opened another door: I finally qualified for training in a children's mindfulness and social-emotional learning (SEL) certificate, which I had wanted for years. Around the same time, I discovered the Midland Wellbeing Certificate Program through the Midland Area Wellbeing Coalition and was able to attend through a scholarship.
There, I met Beverly Wenzel, who played a role in my next big leap. Beverly saw something in me that resonated. She encouraged me, and eventually, I was hired as a Discover You™ coach with The ROCK Center for Youth Development.
Now, my days are spent working directly with students, helping them develop critical life skills. I teach character strengths, growth mindset, communication, empathy, and social justice. I split my time between Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center and Windover High School, meeting students where they are and helping them find their own strengths. I also help run their peer-to-peer program at Windover, while mentoring students and connecting them to resources they might not otherwise know exist.
Working in the schools, I see firsthand how much Midland has changed since my own high school years. It's not perfect—there's still work to be done regarding inclusivity and community building—but it's light-years ahead of where it was. I've learned that the most important thing I can do is help students understand that their circumstances do not define them. They'll be in a much better place if they can process what they're going through now instead of carrying it into adulthood.
Outside of work, my family and I enjoy all the little things Midland has to offer. We spend time Downtown in the Pedestrian Plaza, visit the library often, and always find an excuse to stop by Heather & Holly or Cottage Creamery for a sweet treat. Our daughter is finding her own interests—she's in the orchestra now, playing the violin, and just joined a new writing club at school. Watching her flourish in the same community where I once struggled is an incredibly full-circle moment for me.
Looking ahead, I feel hopeful. Midland has grown so much and continues to evolve in the best ways. I want to see the community fulfill its mission of being a place where everyone feels like they belong, regardless of background. If my own journey has shown me anything, it's that sometimes, the place you least expected to return to can become exactly where you're meant to be.”
-Tonia West
Do you have a Midland County story you would like to tell that aligns with our vision?