As the end of my senior year of high school approached I debated on whether going to any of the colleges I got accepted to would be the right choice for me. I’ve always been one to dream big and I knew I wanted a life that I could be happy to wake up to. After an internal debate I decided to go to school as sort of a back up plan. I knew I did not want to spend my whole life working a 9 to 5 job, but I wanted to have a degree so I could have something concrete.

So, I went to college in a city not too far from my hometown in South Carolina. I went through three majors and 4 1/2 years, but December 14, 2011 I walked across the stage and received my Bachelors degree. I was so proud and happy because I felt like quitting school every other week, but I finished what I started.

Somewhere between switching majors and dealing with the growing pains of becoming an adult, I forgot my degree was a backup plan and not THE PLAN.

I went back to my hometown and immediately began searching for jobs to no avail. I spent six months day in and day out job searching. It was a very hard time in my life being in my childhood room at my parents house with the degree I fought myself to obtain with no job prospects and no money.

Finally, early June I received a job offer, then not even a week later I received another job offer. I began working my first official job in a corporate setting all the while wishing I was somewhere else doing something else.

After another six months, I was offered a better position within the company and accepted. I started my new position and was making more money than I thought I would be able to make so early in my career, but I was still unhappy, constantly wishing for a way out. Early January, I decided to save as much money as I could and to move around my birthday, October 10th.

I told my parents of my plans and they of course thought I was crazy, “Why would you leave your good-paying job, here where you have family and move somewhere else?” I told them I needed a change and I at least needed to try something different.

I told very few people of my plans I didn’t know where I was moving or really what the plan besides moving was. All I knew was I would not be complacent and bored my whole life.

As I saw my bank account growing, I became more confident in my plan and decided I’d move to Atlanta, GA. Early September I put in my two weeks notice and two weeks later I moved with a few job prospects in place, but nothing concrete and a lot of doubt from the people around me of how I was going to make it work.

It hasn’t been the easiest thing, but it was definitely worth it. I’m proud of myself for moving four hours away from home, to a place where I know practically no one, because I felt like it. I needed to do it to show myself that life doesn’t always have to be practical or predictable. I can do whatever I want to do and I don’t have to limit myself to any place, career, or opinion.

I haven’t quite gotten to the place I want to be, but I damn sure am making a run for it!

Courtney

image source: Anais Mali for Vogue Paris 2012