So far, my 20’s have been exuberant, confusing, and extremely transitional. After graduation, I wasn’t sure what to expect or where my next walk of life would take me. I went into college undecided and came out on the other side also undecided. I tried marketing and realized very early on that it was not the career for me so I got a side gig as a coach at Orange Theory and decided to rethink my Physical Therapy aspirations. I applied to schools with the uncertainty and overwhelming thoughts that I could very well not get in to a program. Currently as I’m typing this prompt, I’m sitting in my bed under the covers in my new Northwestern hoodie. I committed last week and am happy about my choice but I also don’t think the reality of upping my life and moving to a whole new city has hit me.
To be honest, I am super content with my life in DC. I like my friends, my apartment is cozy and comfy, and my family lives 10 minutes away, but I’ve also lived here for six years and feel like if I don’t move now, I’ll be stuck in my little district forever. When I was choosing between GWU and Northwestern, as my two PT options, a quote from a podcast I once listened to popped into my head. The quote went something like this, “being content is the equivalent of being comfortable and in your 20’s you should never feel completely and utterly comfortable.” I could not have agreed more! I think that in your 20’s you should put yourself in uncomfortable situations and that the idea of contentness is reserved for your 30’s. So I rolled with that piece of advice (from a random podcast guy) and chose Northwestern. Plus, GW would’ve been the safe option and I probably would’ve regretted staying in DC for another three years.
Now that I’ve chosen a whole new career path and I’m on the way to girl bossing, I have a lot of time to sit around and think. I’ve found that thinking can be dangerous so I’ve picked up some strange and fun hobbies along my transitional journey. I learned how to play the harmonica (but am taking a break because I can’t open the case), I’ve become really into the NYT mini crossword, and have been trying to become a plant mom (it’s been a few weeks since they’ve been watered, I’ll do that now). Other than my few hobbies, I’ve been trying to fill my days with working out, a whole lot of pickle ball and pickup soccer, and seeing friends. I’ve always had trouble sitting still and not feeling guilty about it, which I think is the result of being a part of the Gulley bloodline, so I usually will pack my days with little mundane tasks.
Although having time off has been nice and everyone is always saying to me “enjoy it while you can, cause in school you won’t be able to relax,” I also feel like this point in my life has been boring and at some points lonely. So many people are off doing big things in their careers and advancing every day and I am sitting in limbo praying for school to start already. Check in on me when classes actually begin and if I am feeling the same way (spoiler: I probably will wish I never complained about all this free-time). Anyways, I know that you really aren’t supposed to compare yourself to people cause it is the thief of joy, but it’s HARD when you are in your 20’s. Most everyone that I know has gone through the same steps in life (elementary, middle, high school, college) but after school stops, we are thrown into the void and have to fend for ourselves and tbh no one really prepares you for that. Not sure about other peoples experiences in their first jobs, but I didn’t use a singular skill in my marketing career that I learned in a classroom (Huge thanks to the U.S. education system). I’m getting off topic, but the point is that being a young adult is hard and confusing and I don’t think that my 20’s has been the best time of my life so far, but I am excited/angsty to start school cause I think it will give me some must needed direction.
When I move, I know a lot of things will change. It’s going to be strange starting over and meeting a whole new group of people, but it will also be good for me to be busy and work towards a career goal. When people in DC ask me now about how I’m feeling about leaving the city, I always have the same answer which is “I am beyond excited to leave.” It’s mostly because I know there is nothing left for me here (career and city wise). To all of my friends who will read this, I will miss you dearly. However, I do feel like this is the exit I’ve needed for a long time and Chicago and my PT journey are waiting to lift me out of my stagnant life in DC.
Check back in about how I’m feeling in a month when I’m officially moved. Time to Chicago!