Packing Up and Moving Out

Being brave is is often defined as “ showing courage,” and courage is defined as having “the ability to do something that frightens” you. To me, being brave is exactly that: doing the things that scare you or make you uncomfortable. This could mean anything from facing your fear of birds to going to your boss and asking for a raise, or standing up for your rights and the rights of others. To me, all of these things make me feel brave, but right now I have something else that is constantly at the forefront of my mind…

I am graduating college. There, it’s been said (or typed), therefore it is now made true. Okay, that’s a little dramatic. But it actually is true, and there’s no way to change it. I only needed three more credits to graduate and I took nine, so something crazy will have to happen to cause me not to graduate. I’m on the fast track to adulthood, less than a month left and then it’s all over. Jeez, four years of college went by so fast all of a sudden. So, you might be asking: what does that have to do with being brave? A lot of people graduate from college!

Well, let me tell ya…

I am planning to move from Minneapolis, MN to NYC. I think that’s pretty freakin’ brave! As someone who has grown up and spent most of their life in one city, moving somewhere else is a pretty big deal. And when that place is the Big Apple, it’s an even bigger deal (IMO). Nonetheless, it is exciting. I think that’s a part of being brave, too; doing something that both scares you and excites you. It means that you’re doing something to make your life different, sometimes better, than it is now.

Anyway, I am making the move for a few reasons:

1. I want to work in fashion, specifically publishing/editorial (not retail or production) and NYC is where the work and opportunities are in the U.S.

– nevermind all of the inspiration!  

1. I think it would be pretty cool to at least experience living in NYC, if I end up hating it or moving somewhere else eventually, I can always say that I did it.
2. To piggyback on that, I want to live somewhere else. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Minneapolis. The creative scene is growing, the restaurants just keep getting better, and the summers are beautiful, not to mention all of my friends are here. But honestly, I don’t think that you’ve really lived life if it’s all been lived in one place. Exposure and experiences around the world are the greatest sources of knowledge.

I think that it is a brave thing to move to a new city, but I also think it is brave to pursue a career goal. Part of being a brave woman, to me, means putting in the hard work to make your goals and dreams happen! Not just waiting around hoping, and talking about what your goals are — but actually doing something to achieve them! I am excited (and terrified) to begin this journey, and am glad to have become part of this Brave group of women in the process!