Kiara Bryant smiles cheekily at the camera with New York City behind her. She is wearing a plaid green shirt and ripped jeans.
(The introduction to “Presenting” by Deal the Villian plays in the background)
(Letter to summer by Audiobinger fades in)
In my 21-year-old life, I’ve moved a total of 6 times to 6 different states. This hefty list includes Georgia (where yours truly was born), Texas, South Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, where I currently reside. Now in the world of big business and Fortune 500 companies, I’m what you would call, a corporate brat.
(The United States National Anthem begins to play)
(Letter to Summer by Audiobinger fades out)
This nickname originates from the common term military brat, which is used to describe families in the military that move frequently, due to things like changing bases or moving up in rank. Most military families move an average of 2-3 years, some even more frequently. It’s not unusual for the Brats of these families to change schools 6-9 times between kindergarten and high school graduation. Me, I’ve never lived in a state longer than 5 years and had 3 different elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.
(Letter to summer by AudioBinger fades back in)
(The United States National Anthem ends)
My nomadic lifestyle was provoked by my Dads job, not the military thus, granting me the title Corporate Brat. My dad is a Business Operations and Strategy expert, and arguably one of the smartest men on this planet. Across the nation, companies like Pepsi, M&M Mars, and Pedigree call on him to help manage their corporations. This meant that about every 3-4 years I took on the title of being the new kid on the block. Now as a kid, moving around so much wasn’t all that bad. My young and naïve mind adapted quickly to new situations, and making friends was as easy as asking if you, “Wanna trade silly bandz?”
(Sound of children laughing)
Sidenote: up until I was about 12, I lowkey hated my birthday, January 18th because my parents always choose to move during this time. Their philosophy behind it being that they liked to start the new year off in the new state, causing my birthday parties to double as an unofficial going away one, filled with games, cake, and tears.
When I was about halfway through 5th grade, my parents told me we would be moving from our small town of Commerce Michigan, to the upbeat and modern Naperville Illinois. My dad sensed our frustrations about leaving once again and promised our family that Naperville would be our final destination. I was upset about the thought packing up my current life and entering a new one once again but thrilled at the idea of exploring somewhere new.
So, off my family of 5 went to the city of Naperville, about 40 mins from Chicago. Illinois will always have a special place in my heart as its the longest state I’ve ever lived in, 5 years. Illinois also happens to be the place where I experienced the greatest year of my life, 2016.
(Letter to Summer by Audiobinger quickly fades out)
(Chainsmokers Closer ft. Halsey covered by Fly By Midnight ft. Jax, enthusiastically swells)
I know, I know! It might sound a bit dramatic to say that 2016 was the greatest year of my life, but it truly was a great year and hasn’t been matched since. The music was Poppin, movies were actually entertaining, and the Cubs won the World Series. In my personal life, I was the starting 2nd basemen as a sophomore for my Varsity softball team, at the top of the social ladder with my two best friends Sam and Alana and didn’t have a worry in the world. I was in my prime.
(Chainsmokers Closer ft. Halsey covered by Fly by Midnight ft. Jax slowly fades out)
(Amerika by Audiobinger fades in, bringing a somber tone)
Then one day in March my whole world got flipped upside down. During school that day Sam kept giving off weird vibes and was an unusual level of quiet. When I asked her “what’s up?” she responded with the dreaded words, “we have to talk,” leaving me unable to think for the rest of the day. After school I walked the 1-minute trek to her house, sat in her basement, and waited to hear what it was that unsettled her for the entire day. Then she said it, she was moving to Taiwan at the end of the summer.
(Sound of record scratching)
(Amerika by Audiobinger stops abruptly)
Let’s back that up for a second. Yes Taiwan. I’d never even heard of Taiwan. She had to pull it up on a map because I was convinced it was a city in Indiana, not on the other side of the world. (Tipton Indiana is what I was thinking of, shoutout to Tipton!)
(Amerika by Audiobinger resumes)
Anyways, I went home later that night sad and depressed at the thought of my best friend since 5th grade leaving me. Well, something must have been in the air that night because when I walked into my house my dad had my brother, sister and mom sitting in a circle in the living room, and for the 2nd time that day I heard the fretful words, “we have to talk.” He told us he had gotten another job opportunity in Allentown Pennsylvania and that we would be moving at the end of the summer.
I was crushed. I loved Naperville and the thought of leaving brought on an overwhelming amount of fear, anxiety, stress, and depression. This was my home, and I was convinced that no place would ever be able to replace it. Then at some point during my sulking period my dad said something to me that turned my whole mindset around, “If Sam can move to Taiwan, you can move to Pennsylvania.” Such a simple sentence held so much weight for me. Sam really moved across the world to a nation where they speak a completely different language. Compared to what she’s experiencing, what I’m going through is nothing. I can get through this; I have 5 other times before.
I thought back to what it was that was causing me to feel so much fear and anxiety, and realized it was because I was stepping out of my comfort zone. One of the main reasons why I had such a hard time transitioning to Pennsylvania was because I wasn’t open to that change and it led me to struggle a bit in the first few months. When I moved before, I embraced the change that came my way, and it allowed me to have great experiences in each state. I don’t regret my transitional childhood, as moving has taught me a abundance of life skills such as adapting to new situations quickly, becoming skilled at making new friends, and seeing the world in a new lens. I’ve met hundreds of people who are dead set on only living in one town their entire life and I can honestly say they’re doing a disservice to themselves. Moving, especially to different regions allows you to experience a whole new culture and set of people that you wouldn’t have known existed. Only when you step out of your comfort zone do you allow yourself to grow the most and experience the greatest things in your life. Your hometown will always be there for you, but if you never leave you don’t know what you might have missed.
And with that I step off my soap box and sign off for the day. From your favorite Corporate Brat, Kiara.
Credits:
Record Scratch and Children Laughing sound effects were provided by FreeSound.com CC BY
Closer by Chainsmokers ft. Halsey covered by Fly By Midnight ft. Jax provided by Soundcloud.com
Amerika and Letter to Summer by Audiobinger provided by FreeMusicArchive.com
Presenting by Deal the Villian provided by FreeMusicArchive.com
The United States National Anthem (The Star-Spangled Banner) by The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps provided by FreeMusicArchive.com