Living in Las Vegas has been an experience, to say the least. I’ve learned more than I ever imagined I would — mostly about myself — and I’ve grown as a person from the second I moved here.

Come next week, however, everything changes for me once again when I embark on a new adventure to Chicago, Ill. I’m pursuing a master’s degree at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism — a longtime dream of mine — and I’m ecstatic for the opportunity.

My best friend Michelle — who bought me my first Northwestern shirt — and me at the Encore

While packing my belongings, I’ve started to reflect on how crazy my life has been since I graduated in May 2011. As of next week, I will have lived in four cities in 16 months — San Marcos, New York City, Las Vegas and Chicago — each very different from one another and all providing me with a new perspective on life.

About a year ago, I read this blog post titled “On Moving to New York.” Every single word resonated with me, as it perfectly described what it feels like when you first move to that city. Rereading the post now, it inspired me to write something similar about living in Vegas. So, here it is:

On moving to Las Vegas, you’ll be excited. The thought of moving here without knowing a soul doesn’t even cross your mind because all you can think about is finally getting back to doing what you love every day: Reporting and writing and telling people’s stories. You’ll be thrilled when your stepmom offers to take the road trip with you, and you’ll convince yourself you’re ready for another big life change.

On moving to Las Vegas, you’ll love every second of that road trip with your stepmom because you spend the entire 18 hours talking about life, your career, guys and things you’ve never discussed before. You’ll wish you’d had more of these moments. When you drive into the desert and you see the Strip in the distance, your excitement builds and continues to do so as you both go out and celebrate.

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada

On living in Las Vegas, the second you come home from dropping your stepmom off at the airport, reality hits you like a ton of bricks. You lie on your bed — the only piece of furniture you’ll have for a week — in your small one-bedroom apartment, and in that moment, you feel more alone than you’ve ever felt in your life. It isn’t until that moment when you realize you don’t know anybody in this town, and your closest friends are five hours away. You’ll cry, question your decision to move here and then quickly snap out of it for the moment.

On living in Las Vegas, during your first day of work, you’ll be nervous, but you’ll jump right in and start reporting that day. You’ll be thankful for the incredible internships you had in the past that prepared you for that first day. You’ll get lost driving dozens of times and become frustrated as a result, but you’ll turn these times into adventures. You’ll quickly throw yourself into work and make it your prime focus, mostly because it’s all you have with the exception of football on the weekends. You’ll love your job, your beat and what you learn from the people you interview on a daily basis, which is exactly what you hoped for when you moved here.

View from the Stratosphere observation deck

On living in Las Vegas, you’ll dread the weekends. You’ll realize loneliness is underrated, and you try to balance staying sane while still figuring out the city. You’ll spend so much time with just yourself, however, that you do go insane, and you’ll develop hatred for things you’ve never despised before. At that point, you try occupying your time by watching an unhealthy amount of football and catching up with friends back home when they can, as they now live different and very busy lifestyles.

On living in Las Vegas, you’ll eventually realize that all of this alone time does have one advantage. You get to spend a lot of hours — more than you’d prefer — on some soul searching. You’ll start to figure out who you truly are, mostly because you don’t have influence from others for the first time in your life. Because no one you personally know can relate, you begin to build your own path and feel empowered as a result.

On living in Las Vegas, you’ll be thrilled when your parents visit just before Thanksgiving. You’ll realize that even though you’re an adult and on your own now, you still need your parents’ moral support and their love. You won’t admit it to them, but part of you will wish you’d stayed in Texas where you can see your family as often as you’d like.

On living in Las Vegas, that feeling does start to go away temporarily when you talk to a couple of coworkers. Your colleagues will give you weekend plans, a place to spend Thanksgiving other than on your couch, company at UNLV basketball games, lunch and coffee dates and just good conversation. You may not have much in common with some of them, but a few become your saving graces, and you learn a lot from each other. You’ll realize human contact is underrated when you get your first hug from someone in three months, and you finally start to be yourself again.

UNLV vs. TCU basketball game

On living in Las Vegas, you’ll meet men through these friends and go on several dates. But they’re all horrible, and they’ll make you appreciate the truly good guys you dated in college. At one point, however, you’ll meet someone incredible and different from anyone you’ve dated in the past. You promise yourself you won’t fall for him, but you do, and it turns out to be the greatest thing to happen during your time here. You learn something from every moment you spend with this person, and he’ll be there when you’re at your worst (which happens more often than it should). Don’t let go of this person, and let your guard down from the beginning (because I didn’t).

On living in Las Vegas, you’ll make a trip to Los Angeles to visit your favorite Texans in California. You’ll also go home for Christmas, a good friend’s wedding and a surprise visit for Father’s Day, all for a couple of days each visit. Spending time with these people you love make you thankful for a strong support system even though they’re miles away. When you return from these trips, you’ll revert to that lonely feeling, but you’ll remember that you chose this lifestyle.

My sister and I at Fremont East

On living in Las Vegas, you’ll spend New Year’s Eve on the Strip, and it will be incredible. Your best friend in college will come in town for your birthday, and you’ll have a fantastic weekend because of it. Several friends from home will visit within three months, and although the touristy stuff is exhausting, you never get tired of hiking, trying new things and spending time with these friends who just get you. Cherish these moments, because these are the friends who will be around forever, no matter where you are in this world.

On living in Las Vegas, you’ll fall out of friendship with people here and back home. It will be unexpected and a bit disappointing, but you learn from it. You’ll move on, and you’ll be thankful for the time you’ve spent with them. It’s part of growing up. And just before that craziness ensues, you’ll grow closer to a couple of other coworkers who turn out to be two of the greatest people you’ve met in Vegas. You’ll have crazy adventures bowling, going to live shows, baseball games and just being ridiculous with one of them. She’ll put a smile on your face no matter what, and she’ll connect with you like no one else could. The other will make you laugh nonstop, and he’ll be a great person to talk to about anything, including parts of your life story as you attempt the climb up Angels Landing at Zion National Park (and in the car rides to and from Utah).

Victoria and I before heading to the House of Blues Las Vegas

On living in Las Vegas, you’ll make that final decision to go to graduate school, one you’ve been thinking about for months. It will break your heart to tell a couple of people you’re leaving, but you know the few (and amazing) friends you have here understand. You’ll start to get excited, and you’ll convince yourself that you’ve made the right choice.  You realize who you are now is going to change in every aspect within the next few months, and that possibility makes you very optimistic.

On living in Las Vegas, you’ll recognize that although this year was one filled with loneliness, frustration and depression, among other things, it was also filled with growth, maturation and endless learning experiences. You’ll be proud for getting through the toughest times on your own, but you’ll be even prouder that you paved the way for those who are willing to take the same risks you did. You’re stronger than you initially realized, and you’re braver than anyone you’ve known. Most people don’t have the guts to do what you did, and you’ll be satisfied knowing that you not only survived, but you seized every opportunity available. You’ll leave behind very little, but you’ll take the experiences with you into a new one that is sure to be life-changing.

On leaving Las Vegas, you’ll be glad you took the risk. You’ll miss Fremont East, Runnin’ Rebels basketball games and your few close friends, but you won’t miss the person you were. Vegas may almost destroy you, but at the same time, it will make you better.

Drive carefully, come back soon? Will do, Vegas.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I’ve been toying back and forth with the idea of staying in New York, going back home or exploring a new place (Because, trust me: After you get the taste of living in one place, even if it is New York, you want to see EVERYTHING), but it honestly all depends on where I get that first full-time job.

I’ve been exploring my options, applying to jobs all across the country and even devoting more time to my freelance gig with Business News Daily by leaving NearSay. I have no idea where I’m going to be in less than a month, which is terrifying, but so exciting, and that’s where patience comes in.

I’m not very good at being patient when it comes to jobs, only because I love working, and I’m ready to delve into making a difference in this industry. But I’m quickly learning that it takes a long time for employers to get back to you — if at all — and that the right opportunity does come along given time. This may all sound cliché, but it’s true, which leads to persistence.

Persistence, on the other hand, is something with which I’m all too familiar. I don’t give up. Yes, I can be negative, and I get down on myself when I didn’t accomplish something in the way I hoped to, but I’m a persistent person. It’s part of my work ethic and my character, and I don’t think it’ll ever leave me.

Lately, I’ve been more persistent than usual (if that’s even possible) to the point that I’ve probably bugged people — friends, family and potential employers alike — to get my point across. I’m passionate (hey, another P!), and someone who will throw myself into my work. I’ll continue to be persistent in my job search until someone hires me, and even then, I’ll continue striving to be the best I can be in every aspect.

Realizing some of these characteristics, mixed into a short weekend trip to Philly (yes, Philly!) provided me with some perspective. I took a train with Deb, one of my fellow former San Antonio Express-News interns, to visit our friend Alia, who’s interning for the Philadelphia Inquirer and also interned at the E-N with us last summer. We spent two days seeing all of the historic places, such as the National Constitution Center, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, in addition to visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art, watching fireworks at Penn’s Landing and eating at the famous Geno’s, where I had my first cheesesteak.

Me at the Liberty Bell

Deb, Alia and I at Love Park

The three of us at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

While the trip was full of fun, and it was great to have some quiet time away from the always-noisy New York City, the visit — to me — was more. I fell in love with Philadelphia, and recognized that it had a feeling similar to that of Houston: a big city, but not to the point that it’s overwhelming. Philly, however, does have something Houston doesn’t, and probably never will, which is true history and gorgeous historical buildings. This is probably why I was so attracted to Philly in the first place.

So what does this have to do with perspective? Everything. This mini trip made me realize that I might have a romanticized idea of what I hope life is like. It helped me figure out that New York doesn’t have everything. It doesn’t have my feeling of home, nor my family or some of my favorite things. And it’s not the only city in which I can “make it.” I can do what I love and start making waves in the journalism world virtually anywhere. Whether that’s in New York, Philly, Houston or some other city in this country is yet to be determined, but with patience and persistence on my side, I know it’s only a matter of time before I figure out exactly where that is.

And at this moment, I’m going to continue enjoying living in a still-unfamiliar place and learning more about myself every day.

Times Square in the rain

At the High Line

In the past month, I’ve learned a lot about myself and my goals. I’ve learned that I’m in the right place when it comes to my career. It is amazing to me how many people I encounter who have the same drive and passion as what they do as myself, and learning from them is something I’m trying not to take for granted. I’ve also learned that coming to this city by myself — exploring alone and fighting through personal struggles alone — is the best thing in the world for me. I’m miles away — physically and mentally — from all the people I love most in this world, and being away from them, outside of my comfort zone, is extremely difficult, but also very, very eye-opening. This city may be the largest in the country, but in my world, it is the most lonely when you try embarking on this journey alone and in very unfamiliar territory.

I’ve learned that when it comes to my career, aside from hard work and perseverance, patience is key.  I can’t — and shouldn’t — expect to get exactly what I want in such a short amount of time. This idea is something I struggle with every day, but it’s also something I probably wouldn’t have realized without being here.

I’ve also been able to pick out — much more easily than before — my likes and dislikes with this industry, my pros and cons of living in Texas vs. NYC and the good and bad characteristics of myself. This is a result of lots of self-reflection, late-night talks with my fellows and interactions with my few friends here, as well as new people I’ve met along the way.

I could talk about these realizations forever, but my point is that spending a month in the biggest — and mostly unfamiliar — place has been much more good than bad, despite that it may feel like the opposite most of the time. And nothing is more satisfying to me than trying to live my dream and overcoming every obstacle along the way, because I know now I can do anything just by doing what I’ve always done, which is work hard and believe the people I love when they tell me I can do absolutely anything.

It’s the truth: I can do absolutely anything, and I will. I am, and I’m accomplishing my goals while mixing in some fun as well.

The Decemberists at Prospect Park in Brooklyn

After camping out overnight for tickets to see "How to Succeed without Really Trying" on broadway

My best friend, Michelle, and I in Times Square

Allie and I at the NYC Pride Parade 2011