Describe your personality in 2500 characters or less:

The best way to describe my personality is to explain the factors that lead to my decision to move to State College. My boyfriend got into graduate school at Penn State and when the opportunity to leave California and join him here presented itself, I decided to go for it. I have always thought of myself as a safe and rational person, always weighing the consequences of my big decisions very heavily and generally taking ,what I considered, the safe option. My decision to come here was based on several key factors.

The first factor was my family's track record. My parents are both from the east coast and they both moved to California as young adults. I decided that if they survived, then I most likely would too. I had faith in my decision based on rational.

The second factor was my “vanilla” life. For me, Central Pennsylvania is a different world and although it's not trekking across Europe as many twenty somethings do, I knew that it would be an incredible growing experience-- something I have been longing to do my entire life. My parents would of course be there to support me because they too had been through very similar experiences, but the reality was that it was something that I would be doing for myself, by myself, and without them there to hold my hand. I adore my family, but I believe that I am strong enough to make decisions for myself and trust those decisions.

The third and final determining factor in moving to State College was my relationship with my boyfriend, David. We met in a student affairs program in college and started off as friends. During the program we lead a variety of different trainings for over 800 other students including topics such as tolerance, communication skills, working together to complete a larger goal, and community involvement. We brought many of these skills directly into our relationship. Our relationship is something that I believe very strongly in, enough to leave my entire network and support system to maintain. It is of course a risk moving across the country with someone that you have not even shared rent with yet, however, it was a risk with a positive outcome that I was willing, and even excited, to take.

I can't lie and say that moving has been a walk in the park. The time difference, the cost to visit home, and the entirely new community have been just a few of the new experiences. However, this risk has already been worth the reward twofold. One of the biggest tools that I have used to aid this transition has been my optimism and realistic yet positive outlook on life. I believe that my 20s are a time during which I need to selfishly peruse whatever will make me happy and successful and coming to State College has done just that. 

And now for the photographic documentation of recent life:

Le Park, Hot girl work out paying off, dog and boy searching for a ball, and how Charlotte plays video games (and why 3D really won't ever work out for me).
**Caudle and Cashell-Varga parents please take note: Still alive and kickin'**