If you follow me on any form of social media, you know that I was in New York City this summer working for Odyssey. You will also know that I thrived and had the absolute best summer of my life, and that I was very sad to come back to small town Auburn, Alabama. Since being back, I've noticed myself as a changed person; someone who has a different perspective on life now and someone that values different things because of that different perspective.

New York is a city like no other. When people say that it is a melting pot of all nationalities, cultures, languages, races and people groups, they aren't kidding. Even if you aren't directly working with or hanging out with different people than you, you're surrounded by it every minute of every day.

This is something that I personally value so much. I think that to be cultured means that you have been immersed surrounded by and impacted by people different than yourself, where you have the opportunity to learn something new and gain a new outlook on life in some aspect. I think in states like the south where there isn't as much diversity that it's easy to forget all of the different types of people that make this country so great. I don't think there's any better way to get a glimpse of the world, all while still being in the country, other than being in New York.

Another thing that I have reflected on and realized is that people who live in New York know how to grind. They know what they want and they won't stop until they get there. Day in and day out there is a hustle about the city that makes you want to move. Maybe I think that because while working for Odyssey I was surrounded by the most incredible group of people who are constantly working to make Odyssey better and working to get to the next step in their personal lives, but it's true that New Yorker's know what hard work is.

A lot of my friends came to visit me over the summer, and while we had a blast hanging out and going to concerts and eating delicious food, the majority of them said that they couldn't seem themselves living somewhere like New York. That's totally fine and I know that each person is different, but I also know that you don't know if you like something until you try it. I went into the summer feeling very 50/50 on if I would ever consider moving to New York long term, and after 3 months of living there, I am confident that I will.

That's one thing about college that is so great. You can use all of your summers to explore career options and go live in different cities and states to see what you like and don't like while you aren't permanently tied down. I honestly think this is the best way to spend your college summers and I know that I'm thrilled it's how I was able to spend mine.