In your 20s its easy to be caught up in searching for whats next. I know I have been caught up in that for the past two years since I graduated from undergrad. I moved from Michigan to Minnesota to Washington D.C and now to Los Angeles in that span of time. During this time I was always looking and searching for the next career move, the next state or the next opportunity to make my life look like how I envisioned it to be. In all of the previous locations I felt like there was something missing whether it be from a job function/salary perspective or a lifestyle outside of work perspective so to the next location I hopped.

I have only been in Los Angeles for close to 3 months and I feel at home here more than any of the other locations I had been at previously and I feel that is for a few key reasons.

• Social Connections- I always tell people moving for a job vs moving for school is totally different, since starting graduate school at USC I have got to connect with not only people in my cohort but also people from around the school which has helped me feel a sense of connection..I believe this is the most important one that has made me feel connected to the area
• Employment- Before starting my new position at Live Nation I went out to events in the L.A tech scene to get a feel for what type of opportunities I could really have and would I have to move away in order to move up and I feel like I will not have to which is amazing
• Environment- L.A feels like a place that not only speaks to me professionally but also personally as it relates to the causes that the city is putting money behind and how they want to position themselves in the future of tech. I also like how you can go to other parts of Los Angeles county and they will feel totally different than the area you were in previously. Shoot the difference between Santa Monica and L.A proper is something else and that is something I really like. Lastly, I feel like Los Angeles county is somewhere I can not only enjoy my 20s in but also settle down in when the time comes for me to have a family which is something I have been thinking about more the older I have gotten

Like my mom just because you are born somewhere does not mean that is the place you are supposed to be. Who knows how long I will stay in L.A but I definitely see myself staying in California for the foreseeable future. The only drawback is the distance from home but like my mom also told me no matter where you go you are only a flight away.

For those who are also at a crossroads when it comes to where they should be and what they should be doing, I suggest diving deep into the type of social connections, employment and environment places offer you and take it from there!