2011

You know how at the end of every year everyone always say "Wow/omg/damn (etc). This year went by so fast." Well my 2011 definitely did not fly by. It went by just at the right speed and in my 24 years, last year has got to be my most memorable.

I accomplished so much and I've done so much growing up.

2011 started off with unemployment. I found myself being one of the many college graduates looking for a job. Well, I had 2 jobs but they weren't what I wanted to do. I was having such a difficult time starting my career as a nurse and as each day, week, month went by, I got more and more discouraged. I've never had trouble getting what I wanted and I wasn't used to being in that positing and it put me in a very dark place, got me thinking I wasn't good enough, and I was losing hope.

Then one day in February, I unexpectedly get a call with a job offer for a position as a District Nurse for Hayward Unified. Funny thing is that the whole time in school, being a school nurse never even crossed my mind. Now I was given this opportunity and I took it. It ended up opening my eyes to a totally different aspect of nursing that I pretty much had no idea about. But man, I found something there that I wasn't even looking for. It put me in a position to make a real impact on people, in this case the kids I was working with. Unlike working in a hospital, I was able to establish a relationship with them and see my hard work pay off. See them grow and hopefully learn and take something away from me was a big motivation and everyday I went home feeling awesome. On top of that I was surrounded by a wonderful group of women that took me in like I was their son. They taught me so much, not just about nursing but the doors it can open up for me.

One of those doors is an ability to transfer my nursing license to other states giving me the option of relocating. Yes, I this meant that I was going to leave the job that I unexpectedly fell in love with but you can never have everything and it was either stay in Hayward and work or explore and see what else is out there for me. That's exactly what I did. I picked up and moved to New York.

Moving across the country means that I will be away from my family. It was one sacrifice I had to make. But this distance between us has actually made all of us closer. I talk to my parents, grandparents, and siblings a lot more. Our conversations have a lot more content. Each phone call, text, has more meaning. I do miss them though.

Through all of this there has always been one constant. Maybe the best thing that happened to me, not just last years but in a very long time. Maia. We've been friends for many years but I would have never expected us to get to this point. I was able to establish a real and healthy relationship with her. Throughout last year shes stuck with me through all of my ups and downs. She pushes me, lets me dream, plan the future, and with her I feel like we can go and do anything we want. That's what I love most about us.

So here's to a great next year. To do bigger and better things. See places we've never seen before. Go places we've never been to. Build new friendships, keep and strengthen your current ones. You get what I'm saying...