My life is in transition.
Tomorrow is the last day I will ever work the front desk at the University of South Alabama's Student Recreation Center. I will only teach 2 more yoga classes and 2 more cycling classes at the USA Rec Center. In 8 days I will be on a plane headed toward Paris, France. In 60 days I'm moving to Pensacola, Florida. In about 3.5 months I will begin my graduate studies at the University of West Florida. I've been hired as a yoga instructor at UWF's Student Rec Center. Everything is changing.
While I look forward to all of these exciting things to come (!) I'm also sad to leave my current life behind. I've grown close to my professors, my coworkers, and my students. Pensacola isn't so far away, but it will be an adjustment to be 1.5 hours away from my family and friends rather than just 10 or 15 minutes. I'll miss familiar places and familiar faces.
But, I will find new places which will become cozy and familiar. I will meet new friends and will visit 'old' ones. I'll connect with some of my professors, coworkers, and students. That's just who I am. I'm an open book - I'm transparent. I love people, so people love me.
I hope to find a yoga community in Pensacola which is as strong and as welcoming as that in Mobile & Baldwin County. Yoga has opened many doors for me. It's connected me with many unique and wonderful individuals, it's provided job opportunities and research opportunities, it's been an interesting conversation piece in my interviews for graduate school, and much, much more. Yoga and the yoga community have greatly enhanced my life.
I am sad to be leaving my USA students behind. My students have made personal triumphs right before my eyes and I've developed as a teacher right before theirs. We've gone through this process together. I'm forever grateful for their influence on me and can only hope that I've had as much of a positive influence on them. As I move forward, I hope my students will enjoy their (2!) lovely new teachers and that their teachers will enjoy them as much as I have. I also hope to feel as welcomed and to seem as welcoming to my new students at UWF. I appreciate my experiences at USA - all of them - and hope UWF has just as much, and maybe more, to offer.
A big thank you and a hug to all of my family members, students, employers, professors, coworkers, and friends - past, present, and future - who have supported me throughout various points along my journey - in ways you may not even know. I love you guys. <3
