LIFESTYLE

East/ West Coast Postpartum

 

After graduating from college a little over a year now, where you thought you would be can be far from the truth.

Just a few weeks after receiving a piece of paper that proves my self-worth amongst my future colleagues and years of loans to eventually pay off, I had my flight booked and bags packed ready to embark on a new chapter in my life. An East Coast native- ready to tackle the “left coast” as most refer to it as. That’s right I was heading to none other than Southern California. Not to just soak up the sun and check out of reality, but to get a jump start on my career and take on a PR internship at a well known agency in downtown San Diego.

This journey was not solo might I add. I conquered the flight as well as every little adventure with my best friend/ college roommate. Not to mention we were surrounded by my two older siblings who lived rather close to where were able to set up camp.

Now this was a huge transition that I had yet to feel or notice as I was so entertained and distracted by a new city, lifestyle, and meeting new friends. The feeling of being homesick was not even a thought as my older siblings were both there supporting me with laughs and comfort.

Halfway into my city life internship, I was skeptical of if an agency was where I would be most happy, and there seemed to be so many other opportunities surfacing around me. A job presented itself that I could not resist as it was a brand within the action sports industry. Leaving the internship and starting a new role in sales was all but fresh to me and my skill set. I was caught up in the brand and honeymoon stage of the job that nothing had to seem to phase me. Until…the company started to fold and colleagues around me were losing their jobs.

This was the beginning of my struggle out west. Sure on social media, it seemed as if I had won the lottery and my wild side had followed where the party was. From festivals to beachside mansions I was living the life…or at least I thought I was.

The job was eating at me and so was the distance of what I had left behind. Though I tried to persevere through it and find the light at the end of the tunnel. Wrong. This just prolonged my anxiety and confused me of what I really was wanting to accomplish. I wanted an amazing job that paid well (so I could keep up with the lifestyle I was leading) and to find love that could help patch up the feeling of being so alone.

With the millions of people roughly between the ages of 22-35 all longing for the same dream, it is practically impossible to stand out and get noticed. Even if you have a connection at the dream job you have your eyes on…there still remains a superficial aura that doesn’t leave anyone’s side out there. It is almost as if you get sucked into the ways of the rich and famous and there is no turning back because that is all you can see out there and who doesn’t want that?
After a year of having a golden tan and salty beach wavy hair, I had completely lost track of who I was what I was wanting to achieve in this journey. The job front was not working out in my favor, nor was the love endeavors. It was getting to be all too repetitive out in SoCal and the graduation postpartum had completely taken over my thought process.

I was having severe FOMO (fear of missing out) with friends who were still back in the town we went to school in, friends who were traveling around the globe and those who landed an amazing job and had the apartment to prove it.

It finally ate at me enough that I could not lead the lifestyle had always been longing for. I made the executive decision to follow my gut and find out for myself what it is I am searching for and if any opportunities are there to present themselves.

Now being back east, I am able to reflect on what it is I truly want and how far I’m willing to relocate without feeling homesick. It was is an amazing experience to be able to move across the country before noticing you’re done with exams and holiday breaks. But now it is time to find myself and figure our what it is I am wanting to do with my young professional and not so professional life. What is reassuring is that many people my age (23) are in the same spot and some have not even left their parents home.

For everyone who is scared, confused and unsure of what the future may hold for them, know that you are not alone! Everyone hits their rough patches in life and trying to discover how to handle it. Unfortunately, there aren’t any life instructions we are given and trust me at times I WISH. The only thing to do is try to grasp some positivity and do things that allow you to smile/laugh at least once a day, and keep your head up. Who is to say you can;t go back to the opposite coast, but what is key is listening to yourself and figuring out what is right for you not your friends or family.

So here is to the future and what amazing things that are out there, some may just be right around the corner. Just believe in yourself and good things will come to fruition.