“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the
courage to lose sight of the shore” -Andre Gide

When I moved to Eugene for graduate school back in 2012, I died a little. For 13 years, I lived in Madison, Wisconsin. I was leaving behind a large part of who I am for an education and a future that I couldn’t guarantee would turn out a certain way. I was looking to bridge the gap between planning and engineering particularly around water and the built environment, not exactly a follow the yellow brick road experience. A few months had passed; I still felt homesick every day and hadn’t made much progress on my goal. This is something I wanted, why was it so hard to welcome change?

Then the Community Planning Workshop (CPW) came along and allowed me to make my own path. I was passionate about the project I was working on and I really started to solidify friendships and relationships with my classmates. I’ve carried this passion over to a variety of other projects I’ve been fortunate to work on in CPW. These experiences and others at the UO have also expanded my interests to other areas, like energy. Sadly, these two years at the UO have come to an end, and I’m starting a new chapter in Boston.

As I prepare for this new change for over 48 hours in a 16 foot Penske Moving Truck, I reflect upon my time at the UO and CPW and will miss the interest staff/faculty have in my development. I felt I could work on projects that paralleled my career goals and built off of my experience, while positively impacting communities. I didn’t feel like just another pawn on a project. I’m excited for the new journey to Boston, even though I’m leaving behind Oregon. My time at the UO and CPW has taught me to think about change differently and realize that even in the most obscure way an experience can open your mind to a whole new realm of possibilities.

I’ll always be appreciative of the CSC for allowing me to grow, and I look forward to applying my experiences in Boston! My time in Oregon has given me courage to lose sight of the shore and explore new oceans, both figuratively and literally, from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

About the Author: Casey Hanson graduated from the University of Oregon in June 2014 with a Masters in Community and Regional Planning. We will miss Casey and wish her the best on this exciting new journey.