Positional ShiftT.J. Walker

Content Overview

My positional shiftThe before

The change

The after

Telling friends

Reactions

Aftermath

The offer

Reactions

Robert Neelly Bellah

Leaving home in a sense involves a kind of second birth in which we give birth to ourselves

American Sociologist

My shift

Photo courtesy of the University of Louisville

-Leaving Louisville-Setting goals-Job offer-Change goals

The Before

Everyone of my friends and family was born and raised in Louisville

Norm was to stay in Louisville

I was set on living my life in my hometown

Not one of our friends broke away from the cycle

The Change and AfterChange

No college in Louisville had a Journalism program like UK’s

Had to tell them I was leaving, but that I would be back

Had job offer once I got to Lexington, would keep me from Louisville for foreseeable future

After

Friends and family were disappointed

Not sure when our paths will cross again

Telling friends

Friends weren’t okay with me leaving Louisville, but definitely weren’t ago after telling them four years could be five, ten, or even fifteen years.

Was honest when I told them, felt like I was losing friends, but understood I couldn’t pass up job at Rivals.com

We all agreed it wouldn’t change our friendship or relationship with family, but doubt still lingered

Rivals.com offer was too much to pass upPhoto courtesy of Rivals.com

Why change?

Despite having a plan to go to college and go back to Louisville, my hard work in college was noticed and was offered a full time job right out of college

I felt Louisville wasn’t going anywhere and I couldn’t pass up a chance

Change is scary but leaves a lot of opportunity for me to grow

Won’t know if I made the right decision for a very long time.

Telling family vs. friends

Family was generally happy

Parents were sad but felt all their tuition money and hard work was paying off

Friends were more disappointed

Felt I was breaking the cycle of staying and living in Louisville out of spite

But understood why I had to do what I had to do

What I’d do differentlyBe openI never imagined I would leave Louisville

I never thought I’d be in Lexington over four years

Being open would have helped prepare myself for changes

Look for options

If I wasn’t stubborn what other chances could I have missed?

Was UK the best option?

I would have visited colleges outside the state

Works Cited

Quote from Robert Neelly Bellah. Found at Quotes.com.

Picture from the University of Louisville.edu

Picture from Rivals.com

All other pictures are personal pictures