Peace out Portland, it's been real
10 days and counting. I'm moving to New York City from Portland, Oregon on August 24th with no job, no apartment, and no money. But if you ask me if I'm scared I would say definitely not, instead I'm excited for this challenge and it's one I've been wanting to do for a long time.
When I graduated from Syracuse University (the best college EVER and the most rewarding experience) in May I originally thought I would pack up all my stuff and head straight for the big city. I had had a job interview at a top magazine that I would kill to work at, but I had no other prospects like most of the friends I graduated with. Then I began to think about how much I would miss Portland and the friends and family I grew up with. I needed to be in the fresh Portland air surrounded for one last summer.
This summer has been one of the best by far. Yes, I was lazy, I didn't have a job, and I took complete advantage of the fact that I had just graduated and was living at home for one last time. I reconnected with many friends that I will surely miss when I leave. I got my bacon wrapped wings from one of the food carts downtown, floated the Clackamas river till I was tan, drove my piece-of-crap car one last time, and cherished every minute I had with those I love most. But now it's time for the next chapter of my life.
People ask me, why New York City? Have you looked for jobs here in Portland? How are you going to do it with no money? Doesn't the big city scare you? And all I want to say is just stop. Don't pull me back to Portland where I will feel stuck. This has been my dream for so long and I know if I don't make it happen now, it'll never happen and I will regret it for the rest of my life. And even though I love Portland and was happy growing up here, I feel like I don't belong and that my future is in NYC. The opportunities are endless. All the magazines I want to work for and make an impression at are there. Millions of people to meet. I can make an impact there. And I will learn greatly from this experience.
So off I go with an unpaid internship at a fashion and beauty website. I won't be fetching coffee or going to Calvin Klein to pick up 20 skirts for an editor that doesn't know my name. Instead I'll be writing a lot and assisting with beauty photo shoots. So even though it's unpaid, I'm excited to gain all of this experience and hopefully I will meet a lot of people in the industry and this will push me to my career. As soon as I land in NY I need to find an actual job so I can pay rent (three friends from SU and I are looking for an apartment together in Brooklyn). But don't worry about me. I'm not scared because I know myself and I know I'll make it happen.
Here's to all the good times and the bad. Here's to barely paying rent and having just enough money to buy the September issue of Vogue. Here's to the times I'll get lost and make a fool of myself and here's to the first time I trip in public. And here's to the success that will come from it all.
And no, I haven't started packing yet.
When I graduated from Syracuse University (the best college EVER and the most rewarding experience) in May I originally thought I would pack up all my stuff and head straight for the big city. I had had a job interview at a top magazine that I would kill to work at, but I had no other prospects like most of the friends I graduated with. Then I began to think about how much I would miss Portland and the friends and family I grew up with. I needed to be in the fresh Portland air surrounded for one last summer.
This summer has been one of the best by far. Yes, I was lazy, I didn't have a job, and I took complete advantage of the fact that I had just graduated and was living at home for one last time. I reconnected with many friends that I will surely miss when I leave. I got my bacon wrapped wings from one of the food carts downtown, floated the Clackamas river till I was tan, drove my piece-of-crap car one last time, and cherished every minute I had with those I love most. But now it's time for the next chapter of my life.
People ask me, why New York City? Have you looked for jobs here in Portland? How are you going to do it with no money? Doesn't the big city scare you? And all I want to say is just stop. Don't pull me back to Portland where I will feel stuck. This has been my dream for so long and I know if I don't make it happen now, it'll never happen and I will regret it for the rest of my life. And even though I love Portland and was happy growing up here, I feel like I don't belong and that my future is in NYC. The opportunities are endless. All the magazines I want to work for and make an impression at are there. Millions of people to meet. I can make an impact there. And I will learn greatly from this experience.
So off I go with an unpaid internship at a fashion and beauty website. I won't be fetching coffee or going to Calvin Klein to pick up 20 skirts for an editor that doesn't know my name. Instead I'll be writing a lot and assisting with beauty photo shoots. So even though it's unpaid, I'm excited to gain all of this experience and hopefully I will meet a lot of people in the industry and this will push me to my career. As soon as I land in NY I need to find an actual job so I can pay rent (three friends from SU and I are looking for an apartment together in Brooklyn). But don't worry about me. I'm not scared because I know myself and I know I'll make it happen.
Here's to all the good times and the bad. Here's to barely paying rent and having just enough money to buy the September issue of Vogue. Here's to the times I'll get lost and make a fool of myself and here's to the first time I trip in public. And here's to the success that will come from it all.
And no, I haven't started packing yet.
LOVE you and gonna miss you! BUT so excited for this new chapter!
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