How to Take the Leap and Live the American Dream

Thunder crashing, lightning flashing, intense wind and rain that poured like a flood from the sky. And there was Montana in its grandest beauty. I had the opportunity to visit again a few years later and it sealed the deal for me: Montana was in my blood.

I grew up in the rural countryside of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, alongside the conservative Amish community. My parents instilled in us a love of the outdoors and travel by taking us on cabin and camping trips all around the East Coast. When I had the opportunity, I explored nearly half of the United States on a road trip that led me through the majestic mountains of Montana and I fell in love.

Many around me did not understand my extreme passion for Montana, a place I only visited twice; I however, understood my passion intensely. From the moment I drove across the state line, a beauty and serenity surrounded me. Despite the pounding storm I had this sense that I was home, and that feeling never left my side.

Throughout the many changes in my life over the past five years, I understood that I had to chase my dreams to Montana even if it meant a veer off my life course. I took the leap of faith, and in 2005 I began planning my move to Missoula, Montana, some 2300 miles away.

It took some major planning and prayer to develop a plan to move my life from Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Missoula, Montana. Not only was money an issue, but transportation, employment, housing, and the thought of leaving my friends and family behind scared me to pieces. I began by searching for the perfect spot in Montana that would suit my big sky dreams.

For me, it was important that I be daily surrounded with the mountains that I had fallen in love with. This narrowed down my locations to the central and western areas of the state where many mountain ranges cut through the deep valleys. This was one of the most important features in my search because that was the reason I had initially fallen in love with Montana.

My next criteria were area population. Although Montana has no major city centers like D.C. or Philadelphia as the East has, it does have some large, accommodating cities that would provide entertainment to keep me occupied. I grew up in a rural area, but it was important to me to be near people so that I could develop new friendships in an area I knew little of. This narrowed my search down to two major cities: Missoula and Bozeman.

Although most of my closest friends and family believed I was traveling to Montana mainly for an education, I knew that my real reasons lied merely in wanting to be surrounded by a unique beauty that was unsurpassed. However, most of my loved ones did not understand my logic for just picking up and moving 2300 miles across the US just because I felt called to be there.

Therefore, to put their and my mind at east, my next decision was to choose a good college education system that offered something I was interested in: this led me to apply at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana. Months later, when I was accepted into the recreational management program, it sealed my fate that Montana would be my new home.

Halfway into my planning, and having decided that nothing would stop my dream, I met the man of my dreams. This created a situation that I had not planned for. One of the many bumps along the unexpected way. I informed the great love of my life that nothing would stop me from moving to Montana, and if he wanted this to work, he would have to adjust to my plans. And he did. That is when I knew things would never be the same.

Over the next several months, I had to finalize details of my move to Montana. I gave notice to work, sent out hundreds of resumes and applications to job openings in Missoula and searched online for a place to live. The last month I managed to find a place to live and unexpectedly, my work let me go early. Both were blessings, scary nonetheless.

Early February 2006 my parents, sister and I hit the road to cross the country in two vehicles loaded with whatever I could fit inside. When I arrived, my family helped me get situated, and when they left, I cried my heart out. As happy as I was to have finally made it to my long awaited dream, I knew what I had left behind in the process.

Within the first week, I was able to find a job with a temp agency and tried desperately to find my way around my new hometown. Odd streets, new surroundings, and a fear I didn't anticipate hindered me from leaving my apartment often. My new friends at work didn't always understand my reasoning for just moving to Montana because I wanted to, but they supported my American dream and me.

Throughout the next 6 months, life changed including job changes, a new fiancé, and a feeling of homesickness. I loved my surroundings and never once regretted my decision, but at the end of August, I moved myself back to Pennsylvania after selling off nearly everything I owned to pay for the gas to take me home.

Many people still do not understand my American dream. It began with a storm, and it ended with a beautiful sunset across the Lancaster Country countryside. In between were tears, mountains, storms, victories, and challenges, all expected and unexpected and everyone exactly what I needed.

I faced many emotions when re-adjusting to moving home into my parent's house in Lancaster. One of the most hurtful was my bitter taste of failure. Only now have I worked through the discovery that I have nothing but success in my move to Montana. It was short lived, but the dream was wildly alive. Unlike so many others, I chased my dream without fear and pushed ahead through the trials to live my life as I saw it ahead of me. I knew that if I let my dream go, I would always regret never taking the leap of faith.

Failure was never an option, and although it felt that way in the end, I realize now how amazing my journey was. It was not the miles, but the journey that defined me. I write this to relive the American dream in your hearts. No matter what age or where life has taken you, never let go of your wild abandon to dream. Without dreams, this country would be nothing, and with dreams, the world around us can be everything. I pushed onwards and achieved success, however small. Take a step, and begin your journey.