DEAR ATHENS – A LETTER TO THE CITY THAT CHANGED ME

Dear Athens, I met you in June of 2017. It has only been 2 years, and yet it feels like I’ve known you for 5. My parents brought me to you and left me with no idea of what to expect. I heard that I would get to experience a true winter with you (well at least a true winter compared to Florida). I was told you are not a big city which would have to be an adjustment for me, coming from Tallahassee, FL.

You taught me so much. You taught me that change is not easy + transition can be painful – physically painful. I was not expecting to take 6 months to adjust, but the pain of leaving my home didn’t feel like it would end + I didn’t know how long I could stay in your town. I had late nights Facetimes with family + friends, the long discussions with my roommates, + the never-ending movie dates with Max just trying to figure out why I moved to your town in the first place. But through that you also taught me how to persevere, how to fight for what I wanted, and how to push back when needed. You also taught me about sustainability + how to be more cognizant of what I am putting back into the Earth. That local food is the most fresh (+ best tasting). + that construction is never done on time. You shared different seasons with me, as I have truly only known summer and spring from living in Florida. You’ve allowed me to experience Farmer’s Markets, potholes, + salted roads. All things I may not have experiences had I moved elsewhere.

You brought me to the SHAPe Clinic. The place where I learned to work on my own as a clinician. The place where I was able to meet patients, form relationships with amazing people, + use my full potential to treat them. To explain what I do, who I am + my story on how I got to where I am now. The Clinic gave me the opportunity to be a leader + serve those around me. You brought me to people. Some helpful + some not. You brought me students, most of which were excited to give their best at the Clinic. I got to see their lives + confidence change + grow before my eyes. I got to see the difference I was able to make in the lives around me. + not for my glory but for God’s. I was able to learn what a Servant Leader is and how to walk alongside those I lead, not to dictate what others do around me. I’ve learned the true value of patience (+ will continue to practice this as patience is not my strongest attribute).

You brought me to a mentor + boss I will never forget- that once in a lifetime person I had the opportunity to meet in my early 20s. That person who gives everything of themselves in order to make you a better person. That person who gives their time and encouragement. The person who thanks you at the end of everyday for a job well done + is not afraid to take on board my crazy personality. Through him I’ve learned the power of time. Such a simple concept but truly a valuable one. To give your time to your family and secondly your peers. To think of everyday as an IV bag. + by the end of the day, to have given every ounce of liquid in that IV bag.

You forced me to find joy in what I had, rather than what I wanted. I became a creature of habit with working out, understanding how much it impacts me both physically and mentally. I was forced to accept the bad wifi and find something to do when it was not working. I fell in love with a new hobby – blogging. I started to get my feet wet with trying out + reviewing products, taking pictures to promote items I love, + found out I actually really enjoy it!

You forced me into a long distance relationship. I was not going to give up on a relationship that I knew was meant to last. But you tested it, stressed it, + stretched it. I had to learn about sacrifice with my time, knowing that our schedules didn’t always match up.
Wake up early, go to sleep late – whatever it took to be able to talk to him. I had to learn communication – boy this was a hard one + something I will forever continue to try to improve. But I learned how to be more direct with my requests, how to speak up, + know that hanging up the phone in the middle of an argument was not an acceptable way to handle frustration. I learned that it’s okay to not have the words to say right away, but to stay on the phone or on FaceTime until there is a solution. + to remember that the end is always a resolution.

You taught me to take things one day at a time when life seems to be overwhelming. I pushed through each + every day with research – a task that truly seemed to grow everyday. I not only took on a full time graduate student load, but added upper level science courses into my last 2 semesters. I also added an online upper level biology course in the fall semester of my last year. Talk about a work load. But through my school and research, I learned to take it all in, and slowly but surely work away at the problem. In the end, I received an award for my research presentation + it truly felt worth it!

I haven’t enjoyed many of the transitions/changes listed above. But one thing I do know – it all pushed me to be a better version of myself. I have graduated with a Master’s degree, met people who have forever impacted my life, + pushed my long distance relationship to the edges. But I grew + I conquered.

+ that’s all I could ask for.