I grew up in a small suburban-town in upstate New York. Upstate is very different from the New York that is often seen in popular entertainment. In upstate, we trade skyscrapers and flashing billboards for forests and grassy fields. Although they reside in the same state, New York City and upstate are different cultures. While the city is fast-paced and frenetic, upstate is noticeably static in comparison. While I have numerous positive memories associated with upstate, I was always that person who knew that there had to be more to life than my small town experience.

The yearning to go out and explore more of the world was something that was in me from a young age. Interestingly enough, that seemed to be an oddity in my local community. Many of the people that I grew up around have never journeyed too far, and if they have, it often seems to be temporarily. I’ve always rejected the narrative that I would end up being one of those people who grew up in a small town and grew old there without ever really taking the opportunity to see what else the world has to offer.

That is why I made the transition several years ago to relocate to California to continue my academic studies, a dream that came to fruition in the fall of 2014. Although I do travel back to the east coast to see family, at this point in my life I spend the majority of my time in California. Even though I do not fully live in California yet in a technical sense, meaning I do not actually have any permanent residence; mentally I already “live” in California because that is where most of my energy is invested.

Am I attempting to make the point that irrespective of who you are, you need to leave your hometown behind and replant your life elsewhere? No. However, I am seeking to make the point that you should genuinely consider why you are so inclined to stay where you are, if you happen to be one of those people who has lived in the same place for most of their lives.

There does not have to be some grandiose reasoning behind your lack of urge to venture beyond what you know. Maybe you have simply always envisioned your life playing out in a specific way, living in the same town that grew up in, potentially even raising children there in the future and eventually passing away in that same place. In my case, I knew that my story was going to be different, that I would do everything in my power to not leave the proverbial rocks of life un-turned, to explore numerous paths and to appreciate the variety that life offers if we seek it out. I can say with confidence that as long as I am breathing, I will feel the call to go a step further than learning about a culture or location through an article, movie, or a book. I will lace up my shoes and boldly go out and experience as much as I can first hand. Being adventurous might not be everyone’s calling, but it is certainly mine, and I look forward to seeing where it takes me.