Goodbye, Pittsburgh

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard," is just one of the many inspirational and tear jerking quotes from everyone's favorite chubby little bear, Winnie the Pooh. And with my time in Pittsburgh having come to a close, I now know just what that wise, honey-loving bear was talking about.

Leaving Pittsburgh has become the most bittersweet element of joining the DCP. While I will be moving on to so many great adventures, I will also be leaving behind an entire life I have made for myself over these past five years - during which time Pittsburgh has become my home. I moved to Pittsburgh for college when I was 18 years old, and haven't left since. Until now. I say goodbye to a city that I have called home for the past five years, but leave knowing that what I pursue is a life-long dream finally coming true.

Stevie Nicks sang in Landslide, "I've been afraid of changing because I built my life around you." In leaving the only city that I have lived in for my entire adult life, I find that I too am afraid. I am afraid to leave behind the life I have made for myself here. I am afraid to leave behind the friends I have made and the memories that lie within so many of the landmarks throughout this city: my first Penguins game at Consol Energy Center with my family; going to PNC Park with my two best friends to enjoy a Pirates game; trips to Kennywood with my college band; late night Eat 'n Park and Sheetz runs; start-of-year celebrations at RMU (Bobbymania™) and so many others.

However fearful I may be to leave Pittsburgh, I know that my excitement for my future at Disney far outweighs any fear. For as many wonderful memories as Pittsburgh has brought to me, I know that I will find the same in Orlando. With this scary and nerve-wracking ending to a wonderful time, comes the beginning of such great potential for me to exceed in every way I have ever imagined.

You see, for me, Pittsburgh is so much more than a city. It holds the key to some of my greatest highs and some of my darkest lows. It holds emotions of happiness, loss, and heartbreak. It holds emotions of euphoria, excitement, and amazement. Everything that I have become as an adult is because of what Pittsburgh has provided to me.

When I first moved to Pittsburgh for college, I had so many hopes and dreams for myself during my time there. Exceeding every expectation of those hopes and dreams, Pittsburgh has become my first love and one of the hardest goodbyes. And although this is so cliché, I know that I am saying goodbye to Pittsburgh with the knowledge that this bittersweet goodbye is leading to yet another wonderful hello.

During my time in Pittsburgh, I have grown so much as a person - gaining wisdom through the heartaches I have experienced, but also learning the power of love from the people brought into my life by this great city. Starting on my journey to Disney World, I take these experiences with me. I move to Florida with all the hopes and dreams that I had in my heart and mind when I first went to Pittsburgh. And if my experiences in Pittsburgh were any sort of status quo, I know that the time of my life lies ahead of me in my journey with the mouse!

So, Pittsburgh, it is with great heartache, yet unparalleled luck that I say to you Goodbye - at least for now.