I’m finally done with school for the winter semester. I’ve now lived in Chicago for one semester, which is around five months. There are plenty of things I would’ve changed about my move if I would’ve known things before then.
This has been a great learning experience both good and bad. I’ve had a ton of rough patches but I believe everything that has happened badly has helped me tremendously as well.
I took on too many jobs.
First off, I would’ve just stuck with one job instead of 2-3. I should’ve gotten a job that was full time, but it was pretty difficult to do that with my school schedule as well.
I should’ve taken more time with finding a job. I also wished I would’ve went outside my comfort zone and tried something different.
I know the more experience I get in my field is better, but it’s also great to expand my knowledge and work in a field I am unfamiliar with.
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I would have researched more roommates.
Secondly, I would’ve taken more time with who I chose to live with. Living with people that were about to have a baby wasn’t that smartest idea. It’s a 50/50 chance on whether or not I’ll get sleep that night. I love the people I live with, but I need to do what is best for me.
I had to find someone to live with on short notice and I pretty much went with the first people I found on Craigslist. Not a smart idea on my part.
Definitely take your time on who you’re going to live with, and better yet if you’re finding an apartment that will take even more time finding the right one, but at least you won’t have to worry about the other people you are sharing a house with. It can be a bit overwhelming and intimidating at first when you’re moving into someone’s house where everyone already knows each other, and you’re basically the odd one yet.
Do your best to get know the family first if you are planning on renting out a room.
That is my number one piece of advice that I’ve learned so far from this move: Don’t stay or stick with something for someone else’s convenience. I stayed at my job and where I was living because I didn’t want to inconvenience anyone. I didn’t want the family to lose money that I was living with, and I knew my job was extremely short on staff. The thing is, I was being extremely overworked and it was quite unfair what I was dealing with.
I would have researched my town more.
Thirdly, I would’ve taken more time on picking out the area I am living in. There isn’t much to do in the area I live in, and if I would’ve moved about 15 minutes to the eastern side of the Chicago burbs, I’d be surrounded by beautiful scenery and tons of things to do.
I do look at this as a good thing that I’m in an area where there isn’t much to do because I am saving a ton of money.
If you’ve ever moved to a new city, what have you learned from the experience?
What would you have done differently?
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