Hello there. Welcome.

Well, hello there.

I guess I'd like to christen this blog with a bit of an introductory post. An appetizer, if you will, for what's to come. So that you're mentally prepared for what you're reading.

The truth is that I've journaled, blogged, or written in diaries all my life. This isn't exactly something exciting and new, like it may be for other bloggers. I discovered at a young age how much I loved writing, relied on writing. You can flip through my many tattered diaries and half-finished "fiction novels"from the early 2000s if you want more proof.

This whole writing thing just helps me process, in ways I simply can't achieve through standard thought streams or conversations with friends and family. It forces you to actively think about something, churn those thoughts into something coherent, somewhat eloquent, and if you're me, quite sarcastic... and then put that out into the world, into a permanent format.

That may not make that much sense, but it's always helped me get by.

If you're beginning to question why you are even reading these words at all, I don't blame you. Grab  a glass of wine. Or a can of beer. I know I could go for an ice cold bottle of Kona right now. But before we become true drinking buddies, allow me to share more about myself.

My name is Melissa Zhang. I am 22 years old, as of July 2018, and I was born and raised in suburban Massachusetts. Assuming you have any sort of common sense and can read my last name, you'll realize that I'm Chinese American. My parents finished up their college degrees in China, then decided to immigrate to the US to start their master's degrees and raise a family. They settled down here in lovely New England, where they had me and my younger brother, Jason.

Growing up, I loved a lot of things. I was a huge bookworm and tore through most of your stereotypical young adult series. I also attempted to write books, 100% of which I ended up abandoning halfway through. This is not something I am particularly proud of.

I also was an athlete. My parents were great enough to encourage my brother and I to try every sport under the sun when we were growing up. I played soccer, basketball, t-ball, tennis, and volleyball. I ran track, rode horses, figure skated, swam, skied, and even fenced for a horrific few months before I realized that that was absolutely not my calling in life. Even if I wasn't gifted at the sports I tried, I grew up loving the competitive, team aspects of sports. I didn't realize how much this would affect me later on.

These two aspects of my life have been pretty crucial. See, I always thought that I would try law school out, since I was so into reading and writing. Contrary to my stereotypes as an Asian, I absolutely fucking hate math. Both of my parents got their graduate degrees in computer engineering, and here I am, having never taken an actual physics class. Go figure.

But when I got to college, that idea of being a lawyer went out the window and something new completely took over my life. I attended the University of California, Los Angeles, and I have no shame to admit that I am one of the many UCLA Bruins who could rave about our alma mater for days on end. Fight me.

One of the many things that UCLA gave me was the perspective on life that I desperately needed. I wasn't really questioning or challenging my law school vision before I got there; it just seemed like the natural progression of things. I couldn't go down a math/science route so I definitely wouldn't be becoming Dr. Zhang in this lifetime – so I thought of the most respectable humanities-based professions. Law, easy. Bada-bing, bada-boom. Career, chosen.

Well, it turns out, reading dense court cases and memorizing all of the various legal statutes that our country's legal system has set in place is really not where my heart lies. SHOCKER, right?

UCLA helped me realize how tremendously important it is to be honest about what you're passionate about, and what you love...and then focus on that. It taught me to take risks and explore. The past four years have been so filled with ups and downs that have led me to this point now, where I can't freaking WAIT for the future and what's to come in my professional life, and well, that's why I'm writing. That's why we're here.

I wanted to dedicate this blog to two things:
1. Talking about the journey I've taken to get to this position where I am, in this current moment – a recent college graduate from a top public university, who has her dream job lined up for the fall: working in the Communications Department of the United States Olympic Committee, in Colorado Springs

2. Documenting the various challenges and experiences I face once I move to a new state, integrate myself into a new community, and start my dream job

If that seems like your cup of tea, then feel free to peruse. If not, I won't be offended at all. There's countless other 20-something year olds blogging about their feelings online. I'll just be here, with my bottle of Kona and my thoughts. It was a pleasure meeting you regardless.