The other night, my roommates and I had gone out to celebrate the birthday of my youngest roommate. We invited some friends we hadn’t seen since last year, a few of my closest co-workers, and her siblings. After a night out we invited everyone over to our place; this included our 65 year old Vietnamese neighbor Mr. Nguyen. In the midst of the music, dancing, beer pong and laughing I had this moment of pure happiness. I looked around and saw a room full of people that I didn’t even know two years ago, in an apartment that has become my home, in a city that I’ve grown to love. If someone were to ask me two years ago where I would be today, I would have never guessed it would be away from my family and the friends I’ve always known.
Change is inevitable and we can challenge it or we can embrace it. I’ve learned that being forced outside of your comfort zone is far more rewarding than playing it safe. I’ve met so many amazing people in the Bay Area, I still have all my friends and family from the Central Coast, I have an abundance of wonderful people in my life and I couldn’t be happier. Graduation will be here soon enough and with it will come more change. It could be a new job, a new city, or new friends but I say, bring it on!
Vanessa Alvarez is a student at SJSU.
The Bolt Magazine 