The End of an Era & New Beginnings

I’m currently on a flight to Denver and my whole life is about to change.

Three weeks ago, I quit my first post-grad job and started packing up my life in the Southeast—the place I’ve called home the past six years. It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, but one I knew was necessary to fulfill me and challenge me in new ways. There were a lot of factors to weigh—my connection to the Southeast, the people I’d be leaving behind, and a job that I truly did love at one point. The goodbyes made it harder, seeing the way people showed up for me and cheered me on as I chased this dream, knowing they would soon become a part of my past—my “old coworkers”, my “friends from down South”—rather than an everyday part of my life. But seeing their confidence in me, their excitement, only reinforced that I was making the right decision—to pursue the life I had once only dreamed of.

Growing up outside of Philadelphia as a little girl who loved the arts, I always dreamed of making it to the big city. Whether for Broadway or Wall Street, I knew the energy of New York City was the exact environment I needed to truly break out of the constraints of my small town childhood. I loved the idea of being surrounded by opportunity, in a city of artists and creatives. And ultimately, a city where you could be anything you wanted to be and no one could tell you otherwise. 

But I knew this plan would take time to achieve, especially when I saw how expensive college in the city was and realized my dream would have to be put on hold for a few more years. So I went down South in search of scholarships and warm weather. And as you all know, had the absolute time of my life. If you asked my family, most of them thought they lost me to the Southeast for good. But as time went on, the steady pace that once comforted me started to feel like a drag. I felt like I was becoming stagnant, that the city was taking more from me than it was giving. The 9-5 cycle ruled Charlotte—quiet weeknights after work, making plans weeks to months in advance, and living for the weekend became the norm. And when I tell you almost every single person I met there worked for a bank, I mean almost every. single. person. I remember the day I met a girl my age who was an elementary school teacher; I was truly amazed that it took me over a year of living there to find someone in a career outside of financial services. And while I love the corporate girl life for my job, I knew that personally I needed so much more.

If you had asked me 9 months ago how long I would be in Charlotte and with my old company, I would’ve told you at least a few more years and hopefully the rest of my career. I was working a job I loved, on the exact team I wanted, and felt like I was truly making a difference in the lives of our interns and analysts. I had a manager who truly believed in me and saw my potential from day one. She challenged me to always “move my feet” and think three steps ahead. But more than anything, she viewed me as a true thought partner and allowed me to provide real-time feedback on my program as I was experiencing it. I thought the path was clear—I’d finish my last rotation, graduate from the program in August, and boomerang right back to my team as a recruiter. 

But that all changed on a random Wednesday in September. 

My boss pulled me into a conference room first thing in the morning and told me she’d be leaving the company. We were in the heat of our busy season—reviewing hundreds of resumes each day, coordinating with business reps, and kicking off interview processes for the next class of interns and analysts. She couldn’t possibly leave now, yet just like that, she was gone. I was surprised by how much it affected me. I came home from work that day crying, feeling like the clear path I had seen for my future was fading by the second. In that moment I felt the rose-colored glasses coming off. I had always known there were cracks in the foundation of our program, but I really believed we were getting closer to sealing them and making a truly best-in-class experience. Now we were back to square one.

The next few months I fell into a deep funk—both personally and professionally. It felt like no one noticed. I had gone from a passionate, excited ball of energy to a shell of myself, just going through the motions of each day. Most days I would come home from work and just sleep away the evening. I planned trips on the weekends to get out of Charlotte, knowing the city was losing its novelty just as my job did. As the winter months crept in, I knew I needed a plan to get out. A reason to have hope in the cold December nights when the sun set during my commute home. As the days got shorter, each night grew lonelier and lonelier.

When I needed it the most, a bright glimmer of hope came when I visited New York City for the holidays with three of my best friends. As we strolled the city streets, I felt energized again for the first time in months. In that moment, I knew. It was time.

I started obsessively applying to jobs a few weeks later, looking for any way out. I made a “Project NYC” spreadsheet to track each application, and spent every minute of my free time looking for job postings. For a while, it felt hopeless. Every listing wanted someone with 5+ years of experience or paid less than I was making in Charlotte. Even though I was desperate, I knew I needed to be realistic if I was moving to one of the most expensive cities in the world. I submitted almost 100 applications for any HR role I could find, and in the end I heard back from six companies. I completed a few interviews, some case studies, and even flew up to Manhattan in March for a final round that I was convinced I’d get. News flash—I didn’t.

But as the saying goes, each rejection directed me towards other opportunities, and once the momentum started, I knew a yes would be coming soon. The week after I was given a rejection in the final round, a confidential job posting opened up with a company I had become familiar with earlier in my search. With little information to go off of other than the job title and company, I decided it was worth a try. Within the week, they reached out to set up a first round interview. That initial conversation turned into four more interviews over the following weeks, all the way up to the President of the company. With each conversation, I grew more confident that this was exactly the opportunity I had been waiting for. The people were incredible, the role was the perfect blend of my interests, and I would have the ability to take on the ownership I craved from day one.

Exactly three weeks after applying, I finally got my yes. I was moving to New York City.

Every week since that moment has been filled with the most beautiful chaos. Figuring out what to do about my lease, how to sell my car, and planning yet another nine hour move—my fifth in the last six years. It was overwhelming, but I knew it would be worth it once I made it to the other side. And much to my surprise (and delight), everything was working out flawlessly. I made plans to stay with a friend for the transition, got my lease in Charlotte taken over, and sold my car for more than I owed. Though I anxiously awaited the moment something would go wrong, I knew this all was a sign that I was making the right choice.

And so I packed up my life and prepared to close this chapter in the Southeast. I spent every night watching the sunset on my balcony, my favorite spot in all of Charlotte. I put on my “farewell tour”, saying goodbye to all of the amazing people who made my time there so special. But more importantly, I looked at the city with rose-colored glasses one last time, appreciating all that I did love about this chapter and this place. The wide open spaces I needed to make mistakes and figure out who I want to be. The steady pace to remind me life is meant to be enjoyed and sometimes we need to slow down to remember that. The magic of the mountains and the lakes and the sunsets that grounded me when my thoughts felt like they were a thousand miles away. A place that witnessed all the growing pains and life lessons that shaped my perspective to this day. And above all, showed me that I was capable of making all of my wildest dreams come true.

So that brings us to present day. In two hours I’ll land in Denver, and in the morning I’ll start the next chapter of my life. A new company, a new city, a new start.

And I couldn’t be more excited.