1 Year Later And...

 
     Facebook reminded me that one year ago today, I began my journey to Arlington. I was beyond ready to leave my parents' home and to be on my own, but when it came time to hug my parents goodbye, my tears would not stop flowing! I was scared. I was nervous. I was anxious. I was fearful about what it would look like to live in a place where I knew no one, how it would feel to live alone, and what it would be like to work a 9-5 office job. 

     Little did I know, I was in for the biggest roller coaster ride that would land me right here a year later. I often tease that I experienced so much alone time during my first few months in Arlington that I began having long conversations with myself! But, it is true. I was lonely and learning the ropes of a new job while also unbelievably excited to be living in Arlington. I ended up meeting some pretty amazing people who stuck with me on my roller coaster ride. 

     Now, one year later, I am living in the same basement apartment, have my CRV back in Arlington, and am working at a new organization! I began my time in Arlington (great thanks to a connection of a connection of a connection of a member of St. Andrew in Denton!) working as the Administrative Assistant at Leadership Center for Excellence (LCE). After three months, I was promoted to Program Coordinator. With the promotion, I ended up working many more hours and was also more hands-on. I developed great relationships while at Leadership Center for Excellence; both with coworkers and with community members. I gained new skills and enjoyed running the Center's Leadership Arlington Youth Program, which was very similar to Teen Leadership Troy (which I participated in before my Senior year of high school). After working at LCE for 9 months, I ultimately discovered that my heart was not in the work and I wanted to be in a direct service role working with a vulnerable population. I connected with a woman that I met during my time interning in DC and she informed me that she was on the Board of a startup nonprofit that works with vulnerable young women and that they were rapidly growing. She wanted to connect me with the Founder & President. Alas, I began my journey of interviewing for a role at HER Resiliency Center.

     One year after my move to Arlington to "change the world," I am settled in a role that I love and doing the work that I have been longing to do. I work as the HER Place House Manager at HER Resiliency Center in Washington DC. HER Place is a transitional home for women ages 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness. HER Place is home to 5 peers (as we call the women who are involved with HER Resiliency Center). I work odd hours, commute 25 minutes to work each way, and am always on-call. 


     1 Year Later and....

• I am living in my basement apartment where I battled a mouse last week! (Thank goodness for fantastic landlords who saved the day the next morning and parents who tried to console me on the phone at 11pm!) #adulting
• I know what it feels like to love and to be loved.
• I learned that making friends as a real adult person is really hard! But, I have friends in DC now!
• I survived being stuck in bed for three days with the flu (thanks again to great landlords who picked up my medicine for me, fed me for 3 days, and to wonderful friends who checked on me).
• I have learned how fun it is to live in a touristy city as I have seen many friends and family during their vacations! (If you ever visit the DC area, PLEASE reach out!)
• Arlington is my home and I have established a community of friends and families for whom I babysit here. But, I will likely move into DC (or at least closer to DC) over the summer.
• I am involved in with Arlington Commons, a local Methodist church plant, which is super neat and I call Pastor Kate my Arlington/DC minister (the first pastor whom I've called my pastor besides my papa!).
• I work diligently every day to make HER Place feel like the peers' home. If you feel like donating some necessities for the house, please think about donating through our Amazon Wishlist.
• I am surrounded by positive influences. I live in a wonderful city. I am quite literally living out my dreams. 

     My first year as a real person has had its ups and downs. I have experienced frustration and heartbreak. I have faced challenges. And I have most definitely learned that being a real person is not always fun. But, here I am...24 years old, exhausted, excited, and on a mission to affect change in the world, through kindness, justice, and love...one person at a time. Cheers!