GROW WITH SARAH GRACE

We’re about to hit 9 months since my last blog post. In January, I accepted an internship for a writing organization through my University called HerCampus and even though that took up most of my time and writing, I also wanted to enjoy the last semester of my college career so I allowed myself a short hiatus from my blog. 

Since my last post, I’ve had many life changes. I made some amazing memories with my closest friends in college as we counted down the days to adult life (a.k.a. that period of time we have been dreading after college.) In May, I graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor’s Degree in Multimedia Journalism. I was given the honor to be the student speaker at my commencement – an experience I will never forget. 

I said goodbye to Chicago, a city I grew to cherish and that shaped me into who I am today and moved back to Ohio to figure out my life. After applying to many “big-girl” jobs, I soon realized that I wasn’t a big fan of what was being offered. Amidst a lot of unread applications, a few read ones with companies I wasn’t truly passionate about and other turbulences, I decided to take a leap of faith and follow a dream of mine to live in Paris, France.

In the middle of May, I was offered a job as an Au Pair/English tutor in Paris, France. With this new move on the horizon at the end of the Summer, I took up a few jobs in my hometown and worked many hours to create a budget for my Europe adventure. Then, without warning, the day had finally come that I was moving to Paris! After a few bumps in the road, I am finally settled into my small Parisian apartment (that has a view of the Eiffel Tower, I must add) and am starting to adjust to a “French life.”

This next chapter is going to be full of every emotion – happiness, tears, excitement, nerves, joy, fear and everything in between. For the first time, I’m truly “alone” and honestly, it feels great. I thought I was pretty independent as it was but moving to a country with a language I am embarrassingly awful at speaking and knowing absolutely no one is proving to be my most scary chapter yet. 

When I studied abroad in Italy, I only had a few months to see and do it all. This time around, I have a little longer period of time so I’m excited to hit the places I missed before and explore every corner of Paris. As always, I’m thankful for this lifestyle and wouldn’t be where I am today without the love and support from my family and friends back home. You guys are the reason I am strong enough to tackle a new adventure so thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

I know this chapter will have its ups and downs but above all, I’m looking forward to the memories I will create (and write about), the people I will meet, the countries I will see, the food I will taste and to get to know Paris a little bit more every day. The next year (or so) is dedicated to having some fun and seeing lots of new things before reality kicks in and I must face adulthood. So, cheers to another amazing opportunity to fill this blog up with some writing!