June 19 made two years of me living in the Washington metropolitan area.
At this point, I have lived in DC, Virginia, and Maryland, which still feels so surreal. I can remember June 19, 2023 like it was yesterday. I remember landing in DC around 10 or 11am and walking up to the house of my friend, Deborah, in Maryland with two suitcases and my purple JanSport backpack. I remember the pancakes and scrambled eggs Deborah’s mom made for me after telling her husband that the boiled plantain he was trying to serve me was not an acceptable option for my breakfast. I spent much of the day at their home before Deborah’s father took me to my apartment in Virginia. I didn’t know it then, but that was the summer that would bring Deborah and I closer and strengthen our friendship.
What was supposed to start out as a 10-week stint as a State Department intern turned into me finishing college online while completing four more internships between September 2023 and December 2024 following my internship at State. And if that wasn’t enough, I started my first “big-girl job” in DC within a month of graduating. Sometimes I sit and think about how much my life has changed, and how through it all, God has sustained me.
The past couple of years have been filled with many milestones, moments of joys, highs and lows, seasons of confusion, and periods of me simply just trying to make it through the next day. I found community. I reflected on what I wanted out of this season of life. I had to trust that everything would work out even when I did not know what internship I would secure next. For the first time in my life, I had to navigate grieving a loved one and trying to support others who lost someone. I’m not sure if I always did a great job at either. I had moments filled with anxiety and others with unexplainable peace. I cried. I laughed. I tried brunch spots and learned how to cook new things. I had weekend sleepovers, during which secrets were exchanged, bonds were built, and memories were made.
There aren’t enough words to explain everything I have felt and experienced throughout my time here. Nonetheless, I am thankful. The unconventional transition I made with a seemingly impromptu move to the DMV has both taught me and reminded me of so much. I’d like to share a few of these lessons with you all:
– What’s for you is for you. Everything always falls into place, even if that happens after pure chaos. Do you part and God will take care of the rest.
– A little bit of faith goes a long way. Radical faith, however, can move mountains.
– Neglecting your health and well-being is not the answer, even if it is sometimes easier said than done. As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Also, burnout sucks.
– Take the time to learn yourself, your values, and your non-negotiables. Then, stick by them (while allowing room for growth and change).
I’ve learned so much and I am still learning. Though this journey is not always easy, I would not trade these past two years for anything. I thank God for every single day, each friend I made, each roommate I lived with, every new place I visited, the moments that required perseverance, and everything in between.
DC, Maryland, and Virginia: you have all been good to me. I’m looking forward to what my future in this place holds.
Inside an Optimist's Mind 