It seemed fitting to write about my first six months in Tennessee as I get ready to head home for the first time since January. This experience has been more different than college being that there was no Spring Break or long weekend trips home. So 180 straight days without being in the good old Garden State. Here are my takeaways:

1. Feeling like you have no support system is a real feeling

It is difficult to replace the feeling of a great family relationship. Even though my family will do anything for me, no matter the time, place, distance apart, it’s still different. Facetime is good, but my mom’s homecooked dinners and long conversations at the dinner table are great.

But at the same time, without the strong support from my family, none of this would be possible. Despite that, it still requires some mental strength along with being very cautious with each decision that is made.

2. I am learning how to build quality relationships with people that mean most to me

This was actually going to be #1, but this stems from my first thought. I am talking about new relationships here, the ones that have made while In Tennessee.

I’ve been fortunate to have met some friends from the running club and church that treat me like family. It’s the little things that have held a lot of meaning- the coffee talks after long runs (and the long runs themselves, maybe..), the early morning pick-up games, the invitations for dinner, pool invites etc.

Without these people, it would be hard to imagine where I am now. My takeaway here is that it really isn’t about the # of people you know, instead, it’s the quality of the relationships that carry the most weight.

I’ve learned that I need more than my family now that I am 14 hours away.

3. I’ve been able to know myself better

Moving to Tennessee has allowed the opportunity to discover who I am, what I truly want, what I believe in as the influence of societal and cultural norms that I grew up with have suddenly disappeared. The positive influence I have had, and still have, certainly provided guidance in the decisions I make today.

Looking at things from an outsiders perspective has allowed for me to re-think the way I understand my own culture, and ultimately, my own self.

4. Independence is a real thing

Everything is new, unfamiliar, and a little intimating. I had the trust of my parents where I was able to go out with them knowing I was doing the right thing. But still, I lived under their roof.

Fast forward to today where the only real guidance comes from phone calls, facetime sessions, and texts. Having independence is nice, but also carries some uncertainty.

5. Own your mistakes and take responsibility for them

I’ve made mistakes while being here. A lot of them have been small ones such as not using an entire garlic bulb as a clove in a recipe. Yeah, I almost got sick when I tasted the Taziki’s dip I tried to make.

But at the end of every mistake, I do my best to recognize what happened, why it happened, and how I can make it better in the future.

My thoughts on the next 6 months:

I’m excited to see what happens the next half of the year. The last two-three months have been the best months since I’ve come down and I hope to continue that trend.

I had a friend tell me that it’s a good thing if you find yourself in some situations that make you a little uncomfortable. Those words have stuck with me and will continue to.