I Regret Not Moving From Chicago to Texas on Facebook’s Dime

• Ayahna Wilbon, 27, is a YouTuber who virtually moved from Chicago to Texas in 2021.
• She had signed a lease and packed up her previous residence when she all of the sudden had a change of coronary heart.
• Wilbon mentioned she now regrets not shifting and hopes others will embrace the unknown.

This as-told-to essay relies on a dialog with Ayahna Wilbon, a 27-year-old YouTuber who works in promoting and lives in Chicago, Illinois. Wilbon was employed by Fb in 2021 and made plans to maneuver to Texas for her new position. However on the final minute, she determined to skip the transfer and keep in Chicago — a call she says she now regrets.

After highschool, I actually did not know what I needed to do. I’ve a twin sister who I am very shut with, who mentioned, “I will Chicago,” and I used to be like, “You already know what? Me, too.”

We got here to Chicago for undergrad and I have been right here ever since. I have been residing right here for about 9 years now.

I fell in love with it immediately. Chicago was the metropolis. There’s a lot to do, public transportation, individuals in all places. It was the right metropolis to get a profession going.

I believed it was going to be my endlessly house. However that modified.

I graduated faculty in December of 2019, after which March 2020 was the pandemic. There was actually no strain to get my profession began throughout COVID.

However as soon as issues began opening again up and the world began to grow to be “regular” once more, quite a lot of my buddies left Chicago. My twin sister left, too.

It simply appeared like everybody began to have these new postgrad lives. I felt like I used to be actually lacking out on that.

I used to be transitioning careers on the time.

I obtained a proposal from Fb. I had beforehand labored in a contracted position for the corporate and that is what helped me land my full-time position at Fb.

Once they employed me, they mentioned I might work from one in all two areas: both Austin, Texas, or Chicago.

Understanding that every one of my buddies and my sister had left Chicago, I naturally needed to go to Austin. So I selected Texas. This was an organization that may transfer me, so I would not have to fret concerning the problem of shifting.

The corporate despatched me to Austin to search for residences. However I obtained there and I spotted Austin was not my vibe.

I used to be like, “The place are the individuals?” There was nobody driving round. It was not for me.

I used to be so used to Chicago being a really multicultural metropolis. I simply did not really feel that method after I went to go to Austin. Every part was so spaced out.

So I spoke to my new supervisor on the job and I mentioned, “The workplaces are nonetheless closed, what if I transfer to Dallas as an alternative?” I figured it was the following smartest thing. I felt like there was a bit extra tradition there.

I had by no means visited Texas earlier than I obtained this position, however I had a cousin in Dallas and he or she simply appeared like she beloved it.

My supervisor mentioned I might do this. Nonetheless, as soon as the workplaces opened, I must commute forwards and backwards from Dallas to Austin.

It sounds loopy now. It is a couple of two-and-a-half-hour drive. However I had religion that the workplaces weren’t going to open anytime quickly.

The corporate would not transfer me to Dallas, however they might transfer me to Austin. So I made a decision to maneuver to Austin, and from there, I’d transfer to Dallas. It could be simpler and cheaper to maneuver my stuff inside Texas.

I went to Dallas for a pair weeks and checked out residences and checked out the neighborhoods. I discovered an income-driven housing program and labored with an agent in Dallas. He had a loft accessible for me.

I used to be going to lease the residence for about $1,300 a month and have a pool, a washer and dryer, and a dishwasher.

It appeared like the celebrities have been aligning in Dallas.

However in Chicago, I had a fairly candy deal on the residence I am nonetheless in immediately. My lease was $925 on the time for a 700-square-foot studio.

I knew my lease would go up if I moved to Texas. Plus there is not good public transportation there. I might simply see the greenback indicators. I used to be beginning to rethink it.

However at that time, I nonetheless felt like I ought to go to Texas. I had my buddies come assist me pack up my home. The movers got here, and I signed a lease in Austin. My landlord right here in Chicago even began to point out my residence.

I went to Dallas one final time to remain in what would have been my residence and drove round to a bunch of various neighborhoods.

However I simply felt unhappy. It simply felt off. I felt misplaced. I did not really feel like I belonged.

I felt prefer it wasn’t my time to depart Chicago but. I did not need my lease to go up. I used to be going to must pay for parking. There wasn’t going to be public transportation.

So, I canceled all the things.

My supervisor wasn’t upset as a result of the workplaces did not find yourself opening till the next 12 months, at which level it was my time to depart the corporate. The agent wasn’t actually upset both, and my landlord in Chicago was completely satisfied to let me hold my residence so she did not must undergo the effort of discovering somebody new.

I used to be fortunate there wasn’t a lot fallout aside from a YouTube video I made speaking about my resolution. Folks gave me quite a lot of flack for that.

Within the feedback, individuals mentioned, “You have been simply scared,” and, “You must have performed it,” and, “I am glad you did not come to Texas.” It has been virtually two years or so and persons are nonetheless commenting, “Texas did not need you anyway.”

On the time, I used to be 25. I felt like I used to be round that “quarter-century disaster” time. Lots of people need to transfer however simply haven’t got the heart. It was one thing I needed to do however I did not have the heart!

I made the YouTube video as a result of I felt like it might be good to say, “It is okay you did not do it. It is okay you bought scared. It is okay you tried to dip your toe within the water however did not go all the best way in.”

I used to be in denial that I used to be afraid.

In hindsight, I now notice that I did not make the transfer due to a concern of the unknown. It is one thing I positively form of remorse immediately.

I really feel like I missed out on a chance to take that leap, particularly after I had much less threat. I had an organization that was really going to maneuver me to Texas. That is onerous.

I have never been again to Texas since I made my resolution however I am entering into February for my cousin’s birthday.

I am on the level immediately the place I do nonetheless need to depart Chicago. I have been right here so lengthy and dealing remotely for the reason that pandemic. I need to be pressured into an uncomfortable atmosphere and I can not do this right here in Chicago.

Dallas and Houston are nonetheless on my thoughts. I’ve began making use of to jobs outdoors of Chicago. I am hoping to make a transfer someday in 2024.

I really feel like this expertise made me notice that you simply should not let concern drive your life.