Nearly ten years ago I came to Phoenix, only having met one person from the area and talking to another online. I was an wide eyed freshly out of college and thought I could take on the world. I wanted to make a difference, and here in Phoenix is where I would take my stand. However the other side of this story, is I was an extreme introvert who suffered from clinical depression and social anxiety. I needed to prove my own self worth to myself.

Phoenix in a way saved me. I made one or two friends the first year, nothing life changing though, however gradually and in time I built up a huge network of people. I became an introvert with an abundance of friends. Friends that pushed me to face the challenges of my social anxiety, but not alone. Friends that welcomed the odds and ends of my personality. Friends that built me up and changed me.

While I am still an introvert, Phoenix changed me, and saved me. It showed me I can accomplish what I put my mind into, and showed me I was worth it. When I left I received an outpouring of support. I had so many people to say bye to, but just couldn’t. People left messages on my fb, and some of my friends at school made a goodbye slideshow for me. Thank you.

My favorite message was from a former student who simply left me the following message: