Lisa Carter

A year ago, I was soaking in every last moment of my senior year of college. I was working on my final sports sections of The University Star, finishing up the last few stories at my Statesman internship, going out with friends every day and preparing for graduation.

Justin and I celebrating our last night before graduation, May 2011

Since then, life hasn’t been the same in the least bit. I graduated from Texas State University, drove cross country two days later for a two-week Poynter College Fellowship and lived in four different cities: San Marcos, New York City, Houston and Las Vegas. I’ve lost friends along the way, gained new ones, went through more ups and downs than I’ve ever experienced and — most of all — learned a great deal about myself.

I have a handful of friends graduating in the next couple of weeks. Many of them have asked me for advice on how to handle post-graduation life in the “real world.” While I can honestly say my “advice” might be useless because everyone’s situation is different, it got me thinking about what I’ve learned in the past few years and what I wish recent college graduates had told me just before I walked across that stage and into the unknown.

I’m no “real world expert” — at least not yet — but I do have some words of wisdom to offer to those of you who are about to experience one of the most eye-opening times of your lives:

1) Think about yourself. I’m not saying “be selfish.” What I’m saying is take the time to consider what career options you have and make the decision you believe is best for you, free of major influence from family, friends and even significant others. If you have an opportunity to take a job in another city, state or country, TAKE IT! Don’t think about how you might be leaving the people you love. View opportunities like these as ones you cannot pass up and seize them.

New York New York in Vegas, February 2012

2) When it comes to the job hunt, be patient and positive. I spent a little more than four months seriously job hunting and becoming impatient and discouraged too quickly. In retrospect, four months isn’t a terribly long time, and the truth is the job market is terrible for almost every field. It’s important to remember that finding the ideal entry level job takes time. Reach out to your network of professors, colleagues, internship supervisors and whoever else might be helpful to you. Don’t give up, and — if possible — find ways to do some similar work in your free time to keep up practice with your skills.

3) Be open to change. This might be the most important nugget of advice any person could provide. Upon graduation, you will start to realize that everything is changing. Your friends change, your routine changes, your environment changes and you change in more ways than you thought possible. It becomes hard to let go of the past you’ve known for the last several years and move to the virtually unknown future, but trust me: Taking chances and being open to change in every aspect puts you in the best spot for success.

4) Find a hobby. This is something I’ve yet to grasp, since my hobby and my passion has become my work. I’ve heard the best way to spend your newfound free time is to invest your energy in trying something new. Find a class or group that fits your interests and gives you a chance to meet new people. It may take awhile to find something right for you, but exploring is half the fun.

5) Keep contact with those who matter most. Things change so quickly and people are so busy that it’s easy to lose touch with friends. Don’t forget who helped you get to where you are today, and be sure to keep in touch with these people. They’ll most likely not only be helpful to you in the future — they’ll be those you need most now.

Poynter fellows Arielle, Julie and Erin I keep in contact with on a daily/weekly basis

There’s so much more to think about and consider as a fresh college graduate, but I’ll leave that to you to learn and explore. Just remember that this time of your life is crucial, sometimes sad/scary, but mostly exciting. Savor every moment until graduation and reflect a year later on how you feel now. The ways you’ve changed and the things you’ve experienced might surprise you.

Self discovery: A phrase that often sounds cliché, but in my opinion, is truly underrated.

Why? Because not until you truly go through the self-discovery journey at least once do you recognize its value.

You read about these people who spend months and years in other countries and discover who they are in the process. They often learn and teach languages, volunteer for nonprofits, travel without agendas, etc. Some people make a career change in the same city and experience self discovery in that sense, and several people may tell you adolescence or your college years are the points in which you figure out who you truly are.

For this 23 year old, what I believed was my self discovery phase in college (and in Spain) was really only just the beginning. The truth is I’m discovering myself now in ways much different than what I’ve previously experienced.

I’ve written in past posts about how coming to Vegas alone has been one of the toughest challenges I’ve ever faced. Although it’s only part of the big picture, it’s been the centerpiece for this path to self discovery. What I viewed in the beginning as an only negative aspect to my living situation here has actually proven to be not all that bad.

When you’re about to graduate from college, and you’re ready to jump into the unknown, excited, terrified and hopeful for the future, you tend not to notice what you have already: Friends, family and mentors who are there for you constantly. Then you move, and you realize how much more difficult it is to adjust to what seemed like second nature to you at first — making close friends, finding your niche and staying positive.

But a stranger I spoke with a few months ago gave me three simple — but powerful — words of advice: Embrace the loneliness.

And that’s exactly what I’ve done. There have been times in which I’ve been homesick and tried to work through the challenges. Then there are times where I’ve embraced the lack of “noise” — literally and figuratively — around me. I’ve used its absence to my advantage, thinking about myself, what I’m seeking in life, my goals and everything in between without the influence of anyone else. It’s unfortunate that I’ve had to separate myself from the people I love most to get a clear picture of the future I’m working toward, but it’s really an opportunity to discover what I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to do had I stayed in the same location and looked to my loved ones for advice.

Part of embracing the loneliness has taught me that I’m a better person than I give myself credit for. No, I don’t mean that in a conceited way — I mean that once you strip away the stress, the influence of others, your comparisons to people and things you never realized were getting in the way of the path to reaching your goals, you realize that you’re capable of so much more than you ever imagined. And that is an indescribable feeling.

I know the state I’m in now — physically and mentally — is temporary. I’m learning that I’m capable of more than I initially realized, having been separated from everything and everyone I know and love, and I’ve kept my goals and dreams alive. It’s easy to get discouraged and scared of the unknown, but that’s part of the self-discovery process, and it’s easiest to experience when you embrace the idea of being alone.

Overlooking Red Rock Canyon, March 2012 (Photo by Anthony Martinez)

Dare I say it: Vegas is starting to grow on me.

It’s a slow process, but every day, I’m discovering something new about this city that makes it just a bit more bearable to take on by myself.

And that’s the thing: I’m finally not completely alone all the time, thanks to a handful of hidden gems in the desert also known as “friends.” It’s something I realized after sharing a very insightful and inspiring conversation over coffee with a Twitter friend (Elyse ) I met in person for the first time.

This week, I realized I’m fortunate enough to have a job I enjoy, but I’m even more fortunate to have coworkers who are making my time in Vegas better than I initially anticipated. From UNLV Runnin’ Rebels basketball games and spending Thanksgiving with my friend Laura, to daily lunches/coffee breaks/jogs/shenanigans (and inside jokes along the way) with Lisa and Anne, I’m finally starting to make connections with genuine people with whom I share some common interests.

Lisa, Anne and I at the Downtown Cocktail Room (Las Vegas, NV)

But it’s more than that. These friends have put up with my complaints and frustration about little things and have been a source of hope when I need it most. And thanks to these women, I’ve started to create connections with their friends, which has allowed my circle to grow slowly, but surely.

I miss my support system back home, and of course it can’t be replaced, but my small circle of friends here has been exactly what I need at this time in my life, and I’m incredibly grateful.

It’s amazing what one person can do and how much he or she can truly affect your life. Thanks to these women, I’ve been able to see the city in ways I was unable to previously. I’ve been able to experience the local nightlife downtown, try new restaurants, adopt the UNLV men’s basketball team as my own and enjoy opportunities Vegas has to offer for residents. More importantly, however, I’ve been able to laugh with, cry in front of and learn from my friends here, which means a lot when most of the other people you’ve met seem cold and jaded. It’s also nice to be among people who have lived in Vegas for awhile and each have different perspectives, ideas and — oftentimes — interests. The fact these women reached out to me when few others were willing means the world to me.

Luckily, I have opportunities to see my Texas friends soon as well. Yvanna, my best friend from college, will be in Vegas celebrating my birthday next weekend, and I have a handful of close friends coming to visit in March (including Erin, who is having her bachelorette party here, and I, in turn, will be attending her wedding in Texas in April). My baby sister and partner in crime, Justin, will visit during separate weekends in April, and I’m bound to see my “big sister” JaNelle and Pat (with whom I started the Please Send Kolaches blog) at some point. So it’s safe to say things are looking up, and I’m lucky to have met truly beautiful and genuine people in this transient — and sometimes beautiful — city.

One month into living in yet another state, and I’m happy to report I’ve survived.

Really, there’s not much else to say other than the fact that I have a job I really love (and I feel so fortunate to have), and I’ve adjusted to Sin City quicker and more easily than I anticipated. Granted, I’m still trying to get a feel for my neighborhood and the areas I cover, and there is SO MUCH to take in.

Vegas away from the Strip is not what you expect. Some of it reminds me of Texas, minus the gorgeous mountains and seeing In-N-Out Burger joints all over the place. The city — and especially the area in which I live — is strip mall after strip mall. Each neighborhood city seems completely different. The types of people and the environment vary greatly in each neighborhood, and you can distinguish the differences pretty quickly. The cost of living here — even renting an apartment — is comparable to that of living in Texas, and everything I could need is three minutes away at almost any given time. Above all, what I love the most is that Vegas is ideal, not only for its beautiful scenery and hiking, but also for its opportunities for creativity. There’s something about being in the desert that has allowed me to think more creatively than I ever have before, and other people feel the same as evidenced by the really cool art community this city possesses.

My point is Las Vegas is not a bad place to live at all. But I’m sure it’s an even better place when you have people with whom to share time and explore the city.

I’m fortunate to have all I do, especially to have a job I enjoy and to know my hard work got me to a point I never imagined I’d reach. But I’m missing what I took for granted most when I was in school: My friends.

I can’t begin to tell you how difficult it is to make friends in a city where you don’t know a soul. And it’s worse when you don’t know anyone who’s been in the same situation to talk to about it. I won’t deny that it takes an immense amount of courage to put yourself out there and take a giant leap of faith by leaving life as you know it and having everything change in an instant. But I also won’t deny that I continue to learn something new about myself and my situation every single day just by taking these chances. There are so many places I want to go and things I want to see here, but it’s less fulfilling (and fun) without someone to accompany me.

I’m not really sure how to go about meeting people or making friends here, especially being a fresh college graduate. I’ve yet to meet anyone in the same boat (and anyone who isn’t intimidated or weirded out by my unconventional love for sports, especially football). I’ve never been in a situation where I wasn’t surrounded by friends or acquaintances, and watching football games alone every weekend gets really old, really fast.

So if anyone has any tips (or plans to come visit me here!), please let me know. Because right now, I’m in one of the most awkward situations of my life, and I’ll take whatever advice I can get.

After months of job hunting, complaints, confusion, decision making and chance taking, I’m thrilled to announce I have secured my first full-time job after graduating from college.

Believe it: I am now a Las Vegas resident and downtown reporter for View, the weekly publication under the Las Vegas-Review Journal.

Less than four months after graduation, I have a job, and it is so nice to be able to say that. There are very few people in my position who can make this exact statement. Even better, it’s a job doing what I love, which is reporting and writing news stories and features. This in itself is something for which I am extremely thankful.

If you’d asked me several months ago if I imagined working in Las Vegas — or anywhere in the West, for that matter — I’d probably laugh. I thought I’d stay in New York for at least a couple of years, but after fielding a couple of offers from some publications, I realized I’d be settling for the place rather than the position, and the last thing I want to do is get stuck with a job I don’t like.

In July, I spotted a job posting for View on JournalismJobs.com. They were looking for a reporter who had at least two years of professional newsroom experience, but would consider recent graduates. Given my experience with The University Star, my internships and — above all — the Poynter College Fellowship, I figured I had a shot. Turns out they liked me enough to fly me out to Vegas and spend a couple of days interviewing and getting to know the staff before I was offered the position at the end of that week.

I’d only been to Vegas once before, which was in March with my friends, Michelle and Aida, for four days. I can recall standing in a corner of the baggage claim area at McCarran International Airport in which I called the NearSay office to inform the editor I’d accepted his summer internship offer. Now, almost six months later, I found myself leaving the same airport, hoping I would be returning for good soon.

And here I am: On my way to Las Vegas to begin my professional career in journalism, which is my lifelong dream. I’m excited, nervous and terrified at the same time. But most of all, I’m anxious to get back to a busy routine and back to my biggest passion: Reporting.

After thinking long and hard about my options, I’ve decided to come back to Texas from New York on Friday, and I’m convinced it’s the right choice.

No, I didn’t fail, and I don’t feel like I have. I have opportunities for jobs here, and I’m grateful for them. But I realized my heart is in community journalism and sports — two things I can get into at an entry-level position elsewhere. Not to mention it’s more practical — economically — for me to take a job in a city where I’d be making the same salary and the cost of living in general is significantly less expensive.

I also realized a priority for me right now is being near my family and the professional network I’ve established, which includes my mentors and some of my closest friends. They’ve been the best support group in the world as I’ve adjusted to living in the city, and I can’t thank them enough.

I’m extremely fortunate to have spent the summer in the largest city in the country. As cliché as it sounds, it has been a life-changing experience, and I’ve come out of it with a strong backbone, a new outlook on life in general and finally figuring out exactly what I want to do (or where I’d like to start, at least). I’ve met some of the biggest names in the journalism industry, made friends with a handful of the smartest and most passionate people on this earth and stepped outside of my comfort zone in countless ways. I’ve become more independent, confident and aware of this world in just a matter of months, and I’m positive I wouldn’t feel the same way had it not been for the Poynter College Fellowship and my time spent here.

I don’t anticipate being away from New York for a very long time. Rest assured I’ll be back to visit, and the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, which I fell in love with during its August Academy, is a strong option I’m considering after working in the professional journalism world for at least a year.  Right now, I’m looking forward to doing what I’ve longed to do since I graduated, which is telling untold stories, giving voice to the voiceless, honing my multimedia skills and writing about issues that truly affect people and their communities. This is what I want to do, and I believe it starts somewhere other than New York City.

I’m anxious to see what’s in store for me in the coming months. I may not know today where I’ll start my professional career, but I do know my family, friends, professors, former co-workers, Poynter fellows and others have led me in the right direction, and I’m grateful for them. At 22, I believe I’m in a position to accomplish some amazing things in my professional journalism career, and I can’t wait to start.

When you order food in New York, you’re usually asked if you’d like it “to stay” or “to go.” This statement always makes me laugh, only because you’d never hear anyone in Texas ask the question in this way.

However, one day last week, while I was with Cristina, who was visiting from Austin, I was thinking about how much I was missing home when the cashier at Ferrara Bakery asked me this question. I immediately connected my thoughts to what she’d ask and realized I’d been asking myself the same questions for weeks.

To stay in New York, or to go back to Texas…It almost seems like a no-brainer, but this decision is in no way, shape or form that easy. I love New York City. I’ve learned way more about myself than I could’ve imagined in just two months, and I’ve matured in numerous ways. I know it’s a result of tackling this city on my own and learning exactly what it’s like to be away from everything comfortable back home.

Let’s not forget, of course, everything about this city and how it factors into why I moved here. There’s almost little not to love. Numerous things to see and do, the amazing food, the interesting and passionate people I’ve met, the opportunities to do some amazing things in journalism…The few — but somewhat important cons — range from ridiculous prices for everything, from rent to food, to little things, like  subway conundrums, the crazy heat wave, a seemingly forever feeling of loneliness, the dirtiness, the cutthroat parts of trying to survive…all of the stereotypes that come with the city (and hold true, for the most part).

I think of Texas, and I think of family, friends, cheaper living, comfort in knowing people and places, Shiner Bock, my favorite food…everything. But I also think of less opportunity to start the career I want. Maybe I’m wrong, but it’s hard to tell.

I’m conflicted. “To stay, or to go?” Do I stay in New York, wait it out and see if I get the job that fits perfectly for me? Or do I move back to my home state and continue looking for opportunities all over the country? Is it worth it to stay a little longer here, try to be patient and wait this out? Or is it more practical to go back to familiarity and start from there?

I guess there’s no right answer, but I have to figure out what to do in a matter of weeks, and that — to me — is terrifying.