I didn’t think I was that brave until I moved 3 states away from home to a city that I had only been once, not knowing a single person. There is something liberating about trying something new somewhere you never expected to be. Moving 5 hours away from home when I was 18 seemed like a big deal at the time. Making the decision to move to NC was something I really only dreamed about and applied to grad school in the hopes that I would maybe get accepted somewhere, and why not try to live in the mountains in NC? It seemed like an option that wouldn’t come to be anything, until a few months later I was accepted. Even being accepted it seemed too good to be true and not even a real option for me. During the waiting process I prayed that I would be shown the right choice for me. As the time got closer I starting really thinking and praying about what it would be like to actually do it, to go. God is funny in the way he leads us to where we need to be. Deciding to move was the clearest decision to me once I accepted that this is what I was supposed to do. Money lined up for me, roommates fell into place, GA positions were offered, and all I had to do was go. It was scary, and I really didn’t know what to expect leaving a strong community of friends and family behind in FL. Something I’ve learned since I’ve been here 8 months (WOW!) is that people show up in big and small ways. Friends are willing to visit, Facetime, snapchat, call, text, and drive to meet you and talk to you. I really thought it was going to harder to transition to a completely different environment and community, but again God showed up. I was welcomed immediately, built a small community of friends, and felt encouraged and affirmed by my decision to come.

Bravery isn’t just big actions, but small moments. The decision to go to a school, to move, to venture out was my act of bravery. Maybe the decision to wake up in the morning and go on is yours. That is something to celebrate. To love other people, be kind, learn, grow, adapt, and be willing to change are brave and courageous and deserve to be praised. I’m so proud of all my friends who continue to inspire me to be brave just by the ways they live and love every day.