It was just under a year ago today that I packed all of my belongings in a trailer and drove an hour north on I-75 to my first apartment in Detroit. I’ll never forget how I felt when I shut the door on my parents and friends and went into my apartment alone: I was excited to start my first professional position and to meet the thirty people I would be spending the next year with. I was nervous about living in a massive high rise in a city I had only visited twice. And, like most people before their first day of work, I was terrified that I wouldn’t be right for the job. In short, I was completely overwhelmed.

Yesterday I packed (almost) all of my belongings into a U-Haul and drove less than a mile down the road to my charming new 3-bedroom house in Corktown. As I, once again sit amongst familiar things in an unfamiliar place, I can’t help but feel like my year has come full circle. In less than a week, Challenge Detroit will have officially finished and I will be faced with the terrifying reality of the rest of my life.

But this time, things are different.

For one, my location is different. No longer tucked away on the fourteenth floor of a tower, I am now living in Detroit’s oldest, and arguably most vibrant neighborhoods. I eat food grown in my backyard, walk to grocery stores, coffee shops and restaurants and chat with neighbors at the local dog park. I have traded in the amenities and views of high rise living for colorful walls and a tight knight community, and for me, it is a perfect fit.

My career is also different.The past year working for a rapidly expanding, nationally recognized environmental due diligence firm has given me access to incredible opportunities to explore new fields and develop skills I never knew I had. I have gained confidence in my abilities and have been supported by some of the greatest coworkers and mentors I have ever known.

Additionally, my community is different. Whereas a year ago I felt overwhelmed and isolated, now I am plugged into a powerful network of thinkers and doers who want to see their success and happiness multiplied in Detroit.

Furthermore, my values are different. Hands-on service, empathy exercises and critical discussions on culture and privilege have had a serious impact on how I see the world. While I still have a lot to learn, I have gained a much deeper understanding and appreciation of the issues facing Detroit and its residents as well as many other communities around the world.

But most importantly, I am different. The past year has given me a confidence in myself that I never thought possible. I have been given opportunities to develop my creativity, to grow my leadership skills and to learn from some of the most inspiring people I have ever met. I have been surrounded by passionate, hardworking professionals and their personalities have had a positive impact on my own. I have had great successes and I have learned from my mistakes. And somewhere along the way, I have become a person who is less overwhelmed by the uncertainty of the future and more excited by its potential.

The rest of my life is staring down at me, sure. But thanks to the experience of Challenge Detroit and the amazing support system of Detroit’s community, I am excited to face it, to take on my next challenge. And for me, it’s all still happening right here in Detroit.