Isaac Jones has a nickname he gave himself because, he says, babies tend to want to play with him. It is the kind of detail that sums him up well. Six weeks into sixth grade at Benton Grade School, Isaac has already found his footing in a brand new town.

Isaac moved to Benton from Harrisburg at the start of this school year and now lives with his mom and grandmother, spending weekends visiting family back in Harrisburg. An only child, he makes up for it with a wide circle of cousins there, including one close to his own age. So far, he says Benton has the edge over his old hometown. "There are nicer people," he said, though he was quick to note that Harrisburg folks were not exactly unkind either, and people in both communities are inclined to slip through a merging car lane without waiting their turn.

The adjustment has gone smoothly by most measures. Isaac has already made four friends, a fast turnaround for someone so new to the building, and he even ran into one of his teachers, Ms. Martin, at Walmart not long after school started, proof that Benton already feels smaller and more familiar than expected. He picked up a new pair of glasses for his nearsightedness this year too, choosing Under Armour frames, a detail he brought up before almost anything else about himself. Academically, math tops his list of favorite subjects, with science and social studies rounding out the top three, in that order.

Sports take up a good chunk of Isaac's free time, though the move complicated at least one of them. He plays soccer, a sport Benton does not currently offer, which means trips back to Harrisburg to keep it up. Baseball, on the other hand, is available right here, even if Isaac is candid about his limitations. "If someone tries to hit it towards me, I'm either gonna miss it, or it's not gonna go far," he said, laughing off his current skill level with the kind of honesty that suggests he will keep showing up anyway.

When he is not playing a sport, Isaac is usually gaming, splitting his time between Roblox, Minecraft, and a rotation of other mobile games. He has strong opinions about Roblox in particular, preferring its older black and silver logo to the newer design.  Isaac really gravitates to playing the classic games within the platform whenever he gets the chance.

Isaac has already given some real thought to his future. His first choice is to play soccer or baseball professionally, but he has a solid backup plan ready if that does not pan out. "If that doesn't work out, then I want to be a teacher because I like kids," he said, specifically kids younger than himself. Given how often small children gravitate toward him unprompted, it is not hard to imagine him thriving in an elementary school classroom someday, whether he ends up there through sports or through that self-proclaimed baby-whispering talent.

For now, Isaac is simply settling in, one new friend and one new routine at a time. Between a supportive family close by, teachers who already know his name, and a town he has decided he likes, Benton is shaping up to be a good fit. Whether that path eventually leads to a soccer field, a baseball diamond, or a classroom of students, Isaac seems sure he will end up right where he belongs.