Up, Away, and Out Of the Nest You Go

Wowwwwie it's been a long time. I mean a LONG time. I am still alive, yes! It's amazing how the time flies by the older and busier you get. Quite a bit has happened since my last post. I started an internship with Clear Channel Radio in Charlotte, I graduated college, and I left everything I've ever known behind to start my new dream job in Knoxville, TN. Yes by a lot, I truly meant a lot. Let's rewind a bit back to the internship. My internship was in radio because...well... I needed an internship and it had something to do with music. I wanted to learn more about it, but I had no idea that it would spiral into something so huge for me, teaching me way more than I initially bargained for. I was working with a five-station cluster  (1065 The End, Lite 1029, Channel 961, 997 The Fox, and 969 The Kat) in a top 25 market. I had the opportunity to work with some of the best people in the business who were so helpful and generous in sharing their knowledge with me. They truly helped me in one of the most pivotal times of my life, and I will forever love and be grateful for them as they have become wonderful friends along the way. Since I couldn't get enough to fulfill my thirst for this business, I doubled my internship making it last two semesters. I remember being so depressed when I had to start back with classes because it limited my days at the station to only two days a week. I wanted to be there as much as I could! Long story short, it finally came down to the wire, and I refused to let this slip out of my hands. I started working for the cluster as the Programming Assistant on a part-time basis. When I finished school in December, I was able to be there everyday, and boy did that make me one happy girl. I absolutely was in love with my job and was developing great relationships with my co-workers. I still did hair along with my job in radio, but I loved it so much that I needed more. I just felt myself bursting at the seams to learn more and get better at my job. An incredible opportunity finally came along with a station in Knoxville, TN as the Middays on-air personality and Promotions Assistant at Star 102.1, a pop/top 40 station. The program/operations director was interested! In me! I was excited, but also had to face my feelings towards the possibility of moving. I'm in a serious relationship, so of course that aspect of my life weighs heavily in any decision I make. Fortunately, I have an incredibly understanding, loving, and supportive boyfriend who pretty much ordered me to take this opportunity! How many people can say that? He put aside what he might have personally wanted, so that I could have a chance to further my career. After I was officially offered the job, it all became real. I had to quickly make a decision as to whether or not this job was worth me picking up my entire life, and moving it somewhere else. So.... I did it. I left the only city I have ever lived in, all of my friends, my family, my job that I was in love with, and the man I love. Only physically of course, those things and people are all still very much an active part of my life. I'm keeping in touch my family, friends, and old co-workers, and Justin and I are back to the long-distance thing that we've done once before. Luckily Knoxville is only 4 hours away, and I'm so grateful for that. This opportunity couldn't have been in a better location for me unless it had been in Charlotte itself.  Just when I think I know where my life is going, I realize that I have no idea. Life changes constantly and quickly, and you are rarely ever ready for it. I sat in my graduation ceremony a couple of weeks ago and realized just how lucky I am. In this particular time where the job market isn't at it's best, I could sit there on that day knowing that I had a job and an adventure waiting for me. That I have this incredible support team behind me who wants to see me succeed, and help me do it in any way that they can. So here I am... in Knoxville... Just me and my little dog, Duke. I still have my friends, my family, and Justin, but now I am just taking the next step in my career for ME. I'm proud of the fact that I took this daring next step in life and can't wait to see what the rest of this journey holds...BUT I refuse to wear orange. Sorry Vols....but orange is just not cute....on anybody.