NATCHEZ &045; Some people leave their hometowns to make their fortune in the world, but Jennifer Emfinger has found a way to make hers without ever leaving Natchez.

Emfinger always wanted to stay in Natchez. So as her friends started drifting off to college in other places, she stayed right at home. The 20-year-old is preparing for her last year at Co-Lin Natchez starting this fall.

&uot;I saw all my friends coming back after two or three years and then going to Co-Lin Natchez,&uot; she said. &uot;I got to stay here where I love it, but I also have my own apartment and my own things. I’m close to Mom but I have my own place, too.&uot;

But for Emfinger, staying at home also means a chance to continue working in a job she loves.

Emfinger is the Clinique counter manager at McRae’s. There she works with another employee to sell Clinique products and help customers.

&uot;I like cosmetics because I’m a girl,&uot; Emfinger said.

&uot;We all wear this. But I also get to work with people here.&uot;

Emfinger plans to attend Alcorn State University and major in education when she finishes at Co-Lin Natchez. She said she isn’t sure if she wants to continue working with McRae’s or go into teaching. In either case, she wants to be in a job that involves working with people.

&uot;I love kids, I love people,&uot; Emfinger said. &uot;That’s the best part about working in this job. In retail you get to work with people every day.&uot;

Emfinger has already moved up at McRae’s in her two-plus years at the store. She started as a temporary employee gift-wrapping, then worked in the home store before coming to the cosmetics department.

&uot;Most of the people working in cosmetics were older than me,&uot; Emfinger said. &uot;I had to convince them just to let me interview for the job.&uot;

She worked at another counter before taking over the head job at Clinique.

When she’s not working or going to school &045; and there isn’t too much of that time &045; Emfinger likes to spend time with her dog, Rommel.

&uot;Every day when I get home from work we go on a run,&uot; Emfinger said.