Over a year ago I decided to leave Chicago, my home of 21 years. I’ve never lived anywhere else (But I was always in Indiana at my best friends house, therefore I guess I could practically call Northwest Indiana home too). But the point is that I decided it was time to move on and that I did in a matter of only a couple months. Except I didn’t realize how hard it would be. I sold my belongings, said goodbye to longtime friends, packed up my car with only things I couldn’t replace, and drove a straight 36 hours to Las Vegas with my best friend. I felt renewed for about a week and a half, until it kicked in: I left everything familiar to me thousands of miles away. I knew no one out here except for my mother and my closest friend was almost 400 miles away in Tucson. Since August, I’ve grown close to a lot of new people, but always longed for home. I can’t say how many times I’ve thought about giving in and just moving back, but I’m not a quitter. And it literally took until tonight to realize that I wouldn’t trade my new life for the world. Sure, I miss my close friends back home every day, but they will most likely always be there. And so will Chicago. Tonight was such a good night. Of course there was a minor hiccup, but it really only just reminded me of how strong and good of a person I am and how disrespectful some people can be that I have given no reason to be. I can honestly say I feel very happy and fulfilled right now. And that I only see things getting better and better from here. And I really can’t wait to see where and who I’ll end up with next.