It's been nearly two months since I left my first job out of college, a month since my dad and I drove to Michigan, and three and a half weeks since I started my photo internship at the Kalamazoo Gazette. Needless to say, there's been a lot of change happening for me, and so far, I'm happy to say it's been a good thing. I've always had this desire to travel and live in new places being that I'd spent most of my life in Texas, but when the prospect of actually moving (and moving somewhere really darn cold) came, I have to say, I was a little scared. Scared of change, of leaving the familiar and comfort behind. Scared I'd regret my decision and be miserable. After long periods of serious self-reflection, however, I decided that maybe being scared meant I was onto something new and good, something that would help me grow and figure out where I want to be in life. So I did it. I quit my job and moved to Michigan. I'm lucky to have a dad who's crazy enough to volunteer to drive across the country with me. Never once was he impatient with me as I spent exorbitant amounts of time choosing new bedding, jackets, and snow shoes. Instead, he showed kindness the whole trip, took on most of the driving responsibility, kept me focused during the move, and made sure I had every little thing taken care of. We made some of the best memories traveling to a place I'm learning to call my new home. It's strange not seeing friends I'd see everyday or week, or that I can't take a short drive to see family. Being an extovert, I'm used to spending a lot of my free time with others, but now I'm spending most of my free time on my own. It's different, but in a way, it's refreshing. It's especially weird not seeing Cam and Nigel everyday -- that's been the biggest adjustment, I'd say. Twins can be pretty cliche and say their each other's best friend, but it really is true with Cam and I, and our bond only grew in the last few years of being roommates. That said, who knew you could find fantastic people to live with on Craigslist? I hit the jackpot and am living with two of the sweetest girls, Bekah and Sarah, and Sarah's dog Murphy and cat Simba. They've made me feel incredibly welcome and I'm thankful for their help as I've gotten settled in. I'm also working with some seriously talented photographers. Mark is the staff photog here at the Gazette, and I'm already learning how to better compose images and tell stories from him. Bryan's the other intern and I'm aspiring to shoot some kick-ass sports photos as good as his. All in all, the transition to this new chapter in my life has been surprisingly smooth. Some may think my decision to do all this is a little crazy, but after being here for only a few weeks, I know it was the right decision for me. It feels so good to be shooting nearly every single day, to be challenging myself to make the best frame, to be pushing myself to learn video and to find and write stories. I love that I'm getting back to meeting people, photographing them, and learning their stories, whether it's Bridgett Blough of the Organic Gypsy talking about her passion of healthy cooking or Keneisha Darden showing how she gathered community support to send water to Flint. I've got a whole lot to learn and many areas that need improvement, but I'm feeling good about the rest of 2016. There's going to be many days of hard work and times where I'll probably be exhausted and frustrated, but I'm hoping that it will all be worth it for whatever lies ahead. - CP Kalamazoo, Mich., Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 Riley, Grand Rapids, Mich., Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Riley, Grand Rapids, Mich., Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Gus, Grand Rapids, Mich., Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Gus, Grand Rapids, Mich., Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Gus, Grand Rapids, Mich., Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Alex, Grand Rapids, Mich., Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Alex and Riley, Grand Rapids, Mich., Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Grand Rapids, Mich., Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Grand Rapids, Mich., Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Grand Rapids, Mich., Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Jorge G. Gonzalez leaves Stetson Chapel with his wife Suzie (Martin) Gonzalez after a ceremony where he was announced as Kalamazoo College's 18th president on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016. Gonzalez has a B.A. from Monterrey Institute of Technology and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Bell's Eccentric Cafe bartender Janice takes Vicky Dodd and Kim Moran's beer orders at Bell's Eccentric Cafe during Bell's Snow Jog in Kalamazoo, Mich. on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016. The event helped kick off Kalamazoo Beer Week. Bell's Snow Jog participants Bryan Geers and Stephanie Schreiber play a game of Rock'em Sock'em Robots as part of the challenge at Louie's Trophy House on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016. Participants had a chance to visit 11 different stops in downtown Kalamazoo and compete in various challenges. Bell's Snow Jog participants leave Bell's Eccentric Cafe and head out to try their hand at various challenges across downtown Kalamazoo on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016. Arianna Braxton, 13, Jadon Bell, 8, and Nahshon Bell, 11, watch television at the Boys & Girls Club in Kalamazoo before participating in a service project on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016. Over 300 volunteers gave their time during MLK Day of Service. Arianna Braxton, 13, paints during a service project at the Boys & Girls Club in Kalamazoo on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016. Over 300 volunteers gave their time during MLK Day of Service. Kristian Padula, 7, sips a cup of hot chocolate during the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day March in Kalamazoo on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016. Many came out to celebrate the famous civil rights leader despite below freezing temperatures. Members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity prepare to take a picture in front of King's statue after the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day March in Kalamazoo on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016. Many came out to celebrate the famous civil rights leader despite below freezing temperatures. Jimmy Leon Trasher, 75, of Texas Township, pleaded no contest Tuesday, Jan. 19, to second-degree murder and felony firearm use in the May 4, 2015 shooting of his ex-wife, Grace Thrasher, 74, inside the home the two shared in the 6100 block of Poppy Street. Thrasher is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 16 by Kalamazoo County Circuit Judge Gary C. Giguere Jr. Thai Curry Mussels from Old Dog Tavern photographed for Kalamazoo Restaurant Week. Bridgett Blough has owned and operated her food truck called The Organic Gypsy since 2012. "I’m used to parking the food truck next to people who sell French fries and hot dogs...in general, not healthy choices. Other people might make more than me at their food trucks because it’s easier to sell chili cheese fries than kale slaw. I choose to make less money because I choose to serve local and organic food and make it healthy." Game action during a high school basketball game in Paw Paw, Mich. on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. The Otsego Bulldogs beat the Paw Paw Redskins 62-31. Paw Paw players watch their teammates during a high school basketball game in Paw Paw, Mich. on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. The Otsego Bulldogs beat the Paw Paw Redskins 62-31. Stephen Darden looks to see if there are anymore water donations to be loaded onto the U-Haul for the people of Flint on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016 in downtown Kalamazoo. Stephen and Keneisha Darden, owners of Exquisite Hair Design, wanted to help people affected by the Flint water crisis, so they put out a message on Facebook saying they would be collecting water to donate. With the help of family, friends and the Kalamazoo community, they were able to collect 466 cases of water as well as 50 one-gallon water jugs within one week. Jacima White carries a case of water to be loaded onto a U-Haul truck for the people of Flint on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016 in downtown Kalamazoo. Stephen and Keneisha Darden, owners of Exquisite Hair Design, wanted to help people affected by the Flint water crisis, so they put out a message on Facebook saying they would be collecting water to donate. With the help of family, friends and the Kalamazoo community, they were able to collect 466 cases of water as well as 50 one-gallon water jugs within one week. Signs and pictures of children who were sexually abused by priests posted by SNAP supporters during a call-to-action at the Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 in which they hand-delivered a letter to the diocese to publicly urge Michigan bishops to seek out anyone who may have been hurt by a now-disgraced Twin Cities Archbishop. Hamilton cheerleaders perform at the Bulldog Classic hosted by Otsego High School in Otsego, Mich. on Saturday, Jan. 30 2016. Mattawan cheerleaders wait to perform at the Bulldog Classic hosted by Otsego High School in Otsego, Mich. on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016. Mattawan cheerleaders perform at the Bulldog Classic hosted by Otsego High School in Otsego, Mich. on Saturday, Jan. 30 2016. Tri-County cheerleaders wait to perform at the Bulldog Classic hosted by Otsego High School in Otsego, Mich. on Saturday, Jan. 30 2016.