I moved to a small Midwestern city for a job. Although I miss my fast-paced life on the East Coast, I'm surprisingly happy.

"Growing up, I expected to live the fast-paced life of a performer. I'm a Jersey girl with a New York City spirit. My dreams were set on being a principal actor on Broadway."

"The COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on everything I'd been working toward. I knew I had to pivot my career, but I never expected to land in Lansing, Michigan."

"After submitting what seemed like hundreds of applications and securing far fewer interviews, I landed a job in local television in Lansing, Michigan."

"It's not that moving to the Midwest was never on my bingo card; it's just that I imagined heading to another big city like Chicago or Detroit."

Growing up in New Jersey, aspirations were set on becoming a Broadway performer. The COVID-19 pandemic halted those dreams, prompting a career pivot towards broadcast journalism. After earning a master's degree in television, radio, and film, job applications led to a position in local television in Lansing, Michigan. The move was daunting, as it involved relocating to a smaller city than initially anticipated, far from family and the vibrant life of New York City.

Read at www.businessinsider.com