By Justin Bernardy
For this week’s blog post, we have been tasked with speaking about a personal life experience that fits the theme of just saying ‘yes’. A time where we dove head first into a new experience, despite our apparent readiness to do so. I was glad to hear that this was our topic, as it hits quite close to home to me. I left everything I knew as recently as June to come here and start over, chasing my dreams as an artist and potential graphic designer.
This May, I officially separated from the Air Force, where I was stationed in Florida and all of my friends for the last 5 years live. I was not happy in the military; I was not passionate about my career or my future. Sure, I loved the job security, I loved the friends I made, and I felt I had a purpose. However, I was not doing what I love, and I didn’t feel fulfilled. After several long talks with one of my closest friends, who continuously encouraged me to do what would make me HAPPY, and not just what felt safe, I landed on the decision to leave the military and start school.
With only five months left in my enlistment, I had to decide WHERE I wanted to be, and what school I would go to, and if I couldn’t, then I would have to re-enlist. I had virtually no idea of what Washington was like, except for a three day visit to Seattle the previous year, however, that was enough for me to know it was where I wanted to be. I spent every day researching to find the right school, a job, and a place to live. Five months probably sounds like a lot of time to accomplish all of that, but it was probably one of the greatest challenges of my life considering I was working full time across the country. I started applying for jobs and apartments left and right and honestly it felt like I wouldn’t make it, but somehow I did. Next was the hardest part, which was finding a school and getting accepted. Eventually I came across the Seattle Central program, and multiple sources suggested it was an acclaimed program. I applied, and with luck, I was accepted. I was terrified to make this move, and frankly I’m still afraid. However, I haven’t looked back and I’ve been happier and more optimistic about my future than ever.