Concrete jungle where dreams were made up

A picture of a wide eyed group of college juniors popped up on my Instagram feed this morning posted by one of my former professors [who is now a wonderful friend and career life coach]. The University of Tennessee Ad Club is off for the great adventure of the NYC Ad Trip. They'll tour ad agencies, meet alumni working in NYC, and hopefully figure out what part of this crazy industry they want to work in. 

Four years ago that was me.

The New York trip was my Christmas present and mom was terrified I was going to fall in love with New York City and never come home. Five minutes into the walk to the first agency I realized I hated that damn city and would be looking for jobs below the Mason Dixon line. 

At our first agency we were given a presentation by two alums one who I am still great friends with and has proofed cover letters and resumes for me twice now and I walked out with a fire under my ass like no other I had ever felt. On our second day we toured a media agency and after staying after and talking to one of our presenters one on one I knew I had found my niche. I got on the plane back to Knoxville ready to rumble. 

Four years later I work in media and am still loving life below the Mason Dixon line.

But that fire I left Y&R left needs some kindling every now and then.

I have let work beat me down the past couple months. I would be lying if I said I hadn't cried recently because of it. 

And then that picture popped up this morning and I recognized the excitement in their eyes and remembered the butterflies I had in my stomach that morning at the airport. The possibilities were endless. Something I need to remind myself of more. I'm not even 25. There is so much life to be living. I tweeted last night that life gets weird in your mid-twenties. But I'm starting to realize maybe weird isn't such a negative adjective after all. And suddenly that fire was back to burning.