I remember the day we embarked on this medical journey...packed all of our things to head to a master's program for two years in a place we'd never been and hadn't heard much about. I loved my home of 9 years and was not excited about leaving behind friends, family, a career and a beautiful home. We are on our second move and 1 year into med school, so there's quite a few moves ahead of us! I was listening to a podcast that shared some tips on how to look forward to and enjoy moving to a new place, and I thought I'd share them here for you, too.
1. Unpack!
Okay. You don't have to unpack everything (like that Antique China that was handed down to you that you don't plan to use it for years), but literally and figuratively unpack! Make your new place feel like home - hang pictures up on the walls, plant a flower or two, put a doormat outside your house...anything that will help you feel like this is "home", even for a short time.
2. Get to know people!
It can be easy to get caught in the trap of not wanting to get to know anyone because you'll only be here a short time. But medical school is tough! Not just for the student, but the significant others of those students, too. The best advice I've received is to get to know people early! You need a support system in your new home, and there are tons of significant others that are ready to make new friends and get to know you. Take the time to reach out, establish connections & make friends.
3. Get involved in something going on in the community.
Don't let your passions go by the wayside just because you're in a new place. It's great to have something for yourself that you can do to stay busy. Join the PTA, take a class from the local college, or volunteer in the community. There are so many ways to get involved!
4. Explore the uniqueness of your new home!
There is something beautiful and unique about every place you'll live. Go explore! Learn about the community you're in and find out what makes it special. This can help you establish a connection with the place you're in and will allow you to enjoy the journey while you're on it.
To get you started, we've created a "Southern Utah Bucket List" with top picked items from all your MSP friends! We hope this helps you get excited about coming to Southern Utah.
Here's the Bucket Lists (there's a kid friendly version, too). Feel free to download, print & get started on them!
We hope this helps as you anticipate the move to Southern Utah! We are so excited to meet you and hope you get to enjoy a few of these before school starts.
If you have anything we should add to this list, let us know in the comments below!
Love, Your MSP Presidency