I’m Moving

I’ve decided there is no great way to announce that you’re moving other than to just say it. I’ve tried many times to write this, but aren’t bittersweet events always the toughest to put into words? I’ve been offered and accepted an incredible opportunity on the eastern coast of central Florida. It came at a pretty chaotic time in my life despite it being the first time I wasn’t in school; my grandfather, and until recently last surviving grandparent, fell ill and passed away this summer. During those months my father and I took turns staying nights with him, and the last thing he said to me, before I left to board the plane that would jumpstart my future, was, “if it is the right opportunity you will just know, and the people in your life who truly love you will be with you every step of the way even if it means you leave them for a while.” It turns out my last conversation with my grandfather would be what ultimately gave me the courage to take a leap of faith and move to Florida. It’s funny how life’s small, sweet moments can sometimes have the largest impact.

The idea of leaving home is scary for many reasons. Most of the people I love are in Tennessee. It isn’t just that I was born in Tennessee, but that I have built a life there. It has taken me a long time to come to terms with the fact that those people are always going to be in my corner, no matter the distance. It sounds cliché and perhaps you’re skeptical of it or think it’s something I should have been sure of in the first place. I know the people I have close in my life now will not become less close with me because of a few hundred miles in distance. Not seeing someone every day doesn’t make you love them less. Also, who doesn’t want to visit their friend/family member in Florida?

Sitting in airport after airport this summer afforded me the opportunity to continuously have the, “how did I get here”, conversation with myself.  I never could have guessed seven, soon to be eight, years ago when I finished high school, or even five years ago when I started my current job, that I would be where I am now. I have grown so much as an individual during that time, and it has spilled over into positive growth as a young professional.  Just like I am sad to leave my friends and family, I’m sad to leave the people I work with now and the job that has given me so much for the last five years. When I started college my current workplace was my end-all be-all dream workplace. Having the opportunity to work there as a student allowed me to have a taste of my, “dream job”, and become a type of engineer I didn’t even know existed. It also placed mentors in my life that challenged me to constantly work harder and dream bigger; that’s exactly the type of opportunity my new job will be for me. Plus, who knows, maybe my pre-college prophecy for my life will come true and I will end up back where I work now again some day as a senior engineer.

I plan on keeping everyone who cares to read it updated on my great Florida adventure, mental health, and (of course) travels. Thankfully, my new job has a great time-off policy that will allow me to come home or travel as I need to while also working hard to further my career as an engineer. I’d like to thank those who are special to me or have been special to me in the past for being there along my journey, and I would like to thank anyone who takes the time to read this. Despite professional success I still believe that the greatest thing I will ever do is love and be loved by those around me. I find loyalty, love, and friendship to be invaluable at this point in my life. It’s good to know with confidence there is a mutual feeling of support whether you’re laughing hysterically, crying hysterically, or somewhere in-between. Let’s face it; everyone struggles to have life figured out in their twenties, but there’s no reason to do it alone or pretend to be something you aren’t. I don’t think it’s a mystery that most people have experienced or will experience the same feelings and emotions despite different experiences. Choosing to connect with people is, in my humble opinion, the most meaningful part of life. I’m lucky to have the most incredible “squad” of friends in my corner as well as my indescribably amazing family. They say you receive the same love you put out into the world; I’m not sure if that’s always true, but I can say I feel extremely lucky for the love I have been given in my life.

So I guess the whole idea of this is just to say not only that, “I’m moving”, but also to say, “thank you”.

-Brooke