The Power of 20

In December, 2020 I turned in my last exam of undergrad. It was one of the most exciting and simultaneously uneventful events of my life. Once people knew I graduated, the infamous question started being asked. 

"Do you have a job yet?" -everyone 

The answer was pretty simple actually. No, I didn't. I had put in the work to graduate in 3.5 years instead of 4, but hell if I knew what was supposed to happen after that. 

When you graduate from your parents living room in the midst of a global pandemic you're pretty used to stepping off the path, so I stuck with the theme. 

I decided that the best way for me to figure out what set my soul on fire was to get back out there. Have conversations with people all over the place, spend some quality time on the road, and learn a thing or two while I was at it. In January 2021 I packed up my car and hit the road. 

My goal was simple: talk to 20 people in 20 states. 

To document the whole thing, this site was born. I blogged about the cities, the stories, and the connection. 

There were no scripted questions, no 'right' people to talk to, and (my personal favorite) no return dates set. I wanted to have authentic conversations with people I would probably never naturally talk to. I wanted to learn what inspired other people, how they got to where they are, and what they wished they had known when they were my age. 

After returning home this trip found relevance in my day-to-day life. Whether it's through an understanding of a place or a connection of a person or a story I nearly forgot about. It reignited the passion I have for people and the meaningful relationships we're capable of. 

Despite how long ago I may have packed up my car or had been in any given place, this trip was the start of the rest of my life. It was being okay with not knowing what was next. It was taking the leap to do it alone. It was asking questions and taking in as much as possible. 

This trip demonstrated the power 20 people could play in my life or anyone else.