Quote of the Week

"There's No Place Like Home"....or There's No Place Like Home Away From Home

This week my thoughts begin with a tale of two cities, Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ and St. Louis, MO. Being in St. Louis for the spectacle that is Mardi Gras this past weekend, sparked my mind into a dilemma that is coming quickly, where to move, live and start a career after school. Even though the nature of my business can send me anywhere across the nation, I wanted to take some time to appreciate the cities that I call home.

I was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. I went to school in Scottsdale and enjoyed 18 years of sunshine and bliss. I lived in a beautiful safe suburban neighborhood, went to great schools and enjoyed every aspect of my Scottsdale community. I am constantly appreciative of my supportive parents who provided me with a loving, adventurous childhood. Even though I adored AZ, I always believed college meant going away. Arizona State University was a safety option but for me, I wanted and yearned for a new horizon. This is what brought me to Missouri. Columbia has been my wonderful college home for the past four years, however St. Louis is the city that has captured my heart.

My first taste came from my peers at school. Mizzou is filled with in-state students who hail from St. Louis or Kansas City. I happened to form close relationships with a lot of people from St. Louis, and ended up living and working there for a summer at Fox 2 News with a broadcast internship. I had one of the best summers of my life. I lived with a family who was looking for a renter and despite a bit of a messy house and a precarious waterbed, my time in St. Louis exceeded my expectations ten fold. I grew and excelled at my internship, gaining great experience inside and outside of the newsroom with talented reporters, producers and communications coordinators. I traveled all around the city gaining insight into the vast variety of culture and spirit found in St. Louis. Since that summer I have made frequent weekend visits to St. Louis to enjoy the usual attractions like the arch and the zoo, along with sunny days at local wineries, brewery tours, concerts and an occasional game at baseball heaven. St. Louis has become a home away from home and a great little escape when I need a hiatus from crazy college Columbia.

Even with this great city just two hours away from my cozy apartment in Columbia, being here in Missouri many miles away from AZ, has only made my love for home stronger. Going back into the constant sunshine, visiting family and friends and feeling like an AZ native again is something I long for when breaks from school roll around. Simple things like my local Scottsdale grocery store, knowing where to go to get the best pizza in town, laughing with my high school buddies or enjoying hikes and holidays with my family are so important to me. Having my heart in two places is a challenge when deciding where I want to be upon graduation. Choosing family or friends, home away from home (St. Louis) or back home in Phoenix is tough. However I do realize how lucky I am to be young and ready for a new journey. Landing in an unknown place or landing in one of my homes after my time here at Mizzou would be a blessing. I am excited for what is to come! Good news is, St. Louis or Phoenix may be my new home or just a plane flight away.