Moving to a completely new state during the pandemic was one of the most difficult and terrifying decisions I've ever made. Living in a new state had always been on my bucket list, but the timing and the experience of living through a pandemic ruined a lot of my expectations and excitement about the move. Even so, it was a decision I do not regret, and I will explain why.

The opportunity presented itself when my current job gave me the option to choose three cities I wanted to work from. I took this as a sign to have that experience, and I did. I chose St. Louis, Missouri as my first option for three reason; it was similar to Columbus in terms of weather and vibe, it was also far but not too far away from my family, and I saw a big leadership opportunity within the office. I made this decision before the pandemic occurred. When the pandemic struck, I began to second-guess my decision and even considered staying in Columbus. "I want this," I had to tell myself several times. “This is something I've always wanted to do. Simply go for it." I also had the feeling that if not now, when?

I had no idea how much work I had ahead of me before moving. It wasn't just about finding an apartment; it was also about the surrounding area and what was nearby. The most difficult part, and the last task on my to-do list, was finding an apartment that I truly liked. This wasn't the same as moving to a different country, but it was still a big deal because, as we all know, each state in the United States is unique. Fortunately, I did not need to hire a moving company because my father and younger brother assisted me with the move. In addition, I made a financial budget template for my new life. I was about to take sole responsibility for myself, which was both exciting and terrifying.

For the sake of my mental health, I also changed my phone number. I wanted to give myself the space to decide who I give my number to, and many people had my number who I simply did not want to have. However, this required me to change my phone number on credit cards, social media accounts, work profiles, bank accounts, emails, and other places. Making all those changes was difficult, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made.

The drive to St. Louis took 6 hours and 30 minutes, but we arrived safely. This was one of many trips I'd taken with my father and brother, but this time I wasn't going back with them. It sounds sad, doesn't it? But I'd like to believe that my father was proud of the woman I'd become and was striving to improve every day. I was 24 years old when I moved to St. Louis to start my first "adult job" as an analyst with Accenture.

It was difficult to live in St. Louis knowing only one person. I'd like to think it would have been different if the pandemic hadn't occurred, but who knows. What I think got me through my first year was my amazing coworkers I met on my first project, as well as the friends I made at work, who in turn introduced me to many of their friends in the city. I knew I needed to meet new people on my own, so I got creative and downloaded the Bumble app! which included a friend-finding option. I felt out of my element doing this, but I'm glad I did. I lucked out and met one amazing person who made my time in St. Louis a little less lonely after only a few months.

I traveled a lot in the first year to combat the loneliness and sense of being lost that I felt. I made trips to Chicago, Nashville, Lebanon, Los Angeles (twice), Sedona, and Columbus (multiple times).

To be honest, I knew I'd eventually leave St. Louis, but I didn't know where to or when. I discovered it was no longer a place I wanted to live. I wanted to move to Chicago at first, but after looking at the living expenses (lol) and actually visiting the city, which I should've done before deciding to move to St. Louis, I didn't see myself living there. I then considered moving to New York City, but let's just say that didn't work out. Anyway, for a variety of reasons, I finally decided to return to Columbus. 

During my two years in St. Louis, I realized how important my family was to me and how much it meant to have them nearby. I was also getting ready to apply to graduate school and wanted a full-fledged on-campus program, which Ohio State University provided. Third, my best friend of 14 years was returning to Columbus, and I missed being in the same city as her. Finally, I wanted to be in a familiar setting where I could work on myself, both personally and professionally, while being surrounded by people I love and care about.