Thought it looked really neat to make a transit map of all the places I've traveled over the last few years. Pretty happy with out it turned out.
The Greatest City in the World
If there's one thing I'm absolutely sure of, it's the fact that New York City is the best place in the world. It has everything. Entertainment. People. Tourism. Food. Sin. Purity. Sport. Art. Music. The list goes on forever, and it's why I've fallen in love with it before and continue to do so every time I visit.
I love the fact that I can go out at 2am and grab a bite of delicious food. Yesterday, it was a lobster roll. Today, it was African Jerk Chicken. It's absolutely astounding how much life exists in the wee hours of the morning when virtually every other city in the world would be asleep at the time.
Turning the Page
I had absolutely no idea it'd end up like this, but I've officially signed on with Accenture and will be writing the next chapter of my life working as a management consultant in San Francisco, CA!
If the office wasn't painted my favorite color, I probably wouldn't have signed on.
Growing up, I always thought I’d be excited to leave Seattle. I’ve spent 20 of my 21 long, but wonderful years in the Puget Sound. Over the past three and a half years of my life, I thought about how much I want to leave Seattle and get away. I traveled a ton and I couldn’t get enough of the world. Yet, now that I have an actual out and an offer to move away for an indefinite amount of time, I'd be lying if I said I'm not pretty darn petrified.
Just over three months ago, I was in San Francisco. I spent ten weeks working for Gap Inc. fiddling around with their sourcing and 3rd Party Licensing team. The Lower Pacific Heights were my home as one of my best friends and I spent our summer internship periods in a one-bedroom apartment while splitting equal time sleeping on the bed and on the couch, filming ridiculous videos, seeing Taylor Swift (twice, mind you), and getting yoked at FitnessSF. I honestly didn't think I'd be back so soon, but this time, it'll be for an indefinite period.
Quite honestly, I don't even know exactly what I'll be doing as a management consultant. It'll depend from client to client, industry to industry, and office to office. But the potential for doing 'neat stuff' is enormous and I have no doubt I'll get involved with some innovative projects. There will be times I love my job, and likely times I hate it. Hopefully more of the former than the latter.
Still, I suppose that’s part of the alluring adventure, isn’t it? I’m excited to wander out and challenge myself myself. I’m also pretty frightened, but that's apparently what life is about. From there, it’s a giant, blank slate of opportunities.
I can't express how grateful I am to have spent my life in Seattle with so many wonderful individuals who have pushed me in all sorts of directions. From baseball, to school, church, fraternity, and everywhere in between, the PNW will ALWAYS be home.
It's weird that this feels more of an end than a beginning.
That said, I'm excited to see where this new step takes me. There are tons of new people to meet, foods to nosh on, and stories to hear. I know of a church I can't wait to get further involved with, and I have relatives in the area I can turn to if I ever need help. It'll also be nice knowing that most of the local peers have never seen their football team win a championship, while my Seahawks have.
WHEN (not 'if') the Mariners make the playoffs next season, you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be flying up to watch the games. Go Dawgs & Go M's.
Above all, I know that God's placed me there for a reason that I'll continue to seek out and move towards.
Oh yeah, and my mom and dad are probably stoked that they have a reason to visit the Bay Area more often where they both went to school and have close friends. Maybe this was their plan all along. Well played, parents.