Letter to LA

View of Warner Brothers from Universal Studios

Letter to LA by Joe Ely

I've been home for 24 hours now and it's feels like California was a lifetime ago. I've learned so much in the past week that I'm still absorbing most of it. Every activity I've done with in the past few hours I've somehow linked to being in LA. When I spend money, I'm thinking about if it's really worth it or if I could use the money better out in LA. When I'm doing menial activities, I'm thinking about what makes a good intern.

I was talking to my mom yesterday when I got off the plane. She reminded me that for the past 22 years, I had always said that I never wanted to live in LA. And she's right. I had just recently opened up to the idea of living in California and this week opened my eyes to the idea of seriously considering it and even doing it. I met so many amazing people, had so many great experiences - it's hard to ignore that. When people spoke to us about passion, hustle, and reputation, you could see that these characteristics are ones that they exemplify and look for others to do the same. It made me want to try harder and be better. It made my passion grow even stronger to be surrounded by others who were so passionate.

Bye for now California

Before we left I really hadn't had my life planned out more then 6 months after graduation. I knew that I was going to move home, find a job, save some money and then figure out what is next. Now, depending on if I get an internship I'm applying for in LA, I might be moving out there in June. It's quick, yes, but it's something I want so badly and a week ago, I didn't even realize how badly I wanted it. LA made my passion even stronger. If I don't get the internship, I'm still going to be moving home to save money so that I can move out to California as soon as possible. It's a place that opened my eyes to competition and trying harder to be better then you were yesterday.

Only 54 days until graduation. Only 54 more days until I can go back to LA. It's so strange to think about how a place can sweep you off your feet in such a short amount of time. Maybe "strange" isn't the right word - I prefer "magical".