Why I’m Leaving The Q Morning Show

This Thursday, December 21, 2017 will be the last time I'll take a seat in the WJBQ studio with Lori and Jeff as a member of The Q Morning Show.

Saying it out loud and writing it down makes it real. I'm scared, and nervous, and emotional as I write this, but I'm also very, very excited.

I joined The Q Morning Show two years and four months ago. I grew up listening to Meredith, Jeff, and Lori so joining the show was (and still is) a dream come true. I had no experience on the radio, but after a year of throwing myself in front of everyone at Q97.9 and volunteering to shoot videos and write blogs and work events, I was given a shot to "hang out" on the air with Lori and Jeff. I was never told it was an audition for a spot on the show, and it's probably best they didn't tell me. August 24, 2015 was my first official day as a member of The Q Morning Show and I cried happy tears when I heard my name in the show opener for the first time.

In the last two years, my life has changed so much. I love this job, I love the people I work with, and I love the life I have in Portland, Maine. I also love my fiancé, Chris, who I talk about often on the show. About two months ago, after lots of hard work and impressive determination, he accepted an exciting new job in New York City. Since then he's been pursing his dreams in the most exciting city in the world while I continue my dreams on The Q Morning Show.

When he started looking for new opportunities in the city, our first plan was to live long distance for an indefinite amount of time. Probably a year or two while I finished up on The Q Morning show. He would never tear me away from a job or a place I love, where all of my family lives and where I have built a life. The closer we got to his moving date, the more I questioned the decision to live separate. Why would we do this separately, when we could take on New York City together?

This was not an overnight decision. In fact, I've never put more thought or energy into any other decision in my life. What it came down to was this: If not now, then when? If I planned to join Chris in NYC eventually, why wait? Now is the perfect time to challenge myself personally and professionally in a city that scares me while inspiring me. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain, and I have someone who will support me during the challenging transition to city life.

I am so excited to move outside of Maine for the first time in my life. I am so excited to finally join Chris at our NYC apartment full-time. I am so excited to work hard and learn and grow in my career and in my life.

I'll miss my family. I'll miss how proud they were of me throughout my time on The Q Morning Show. I'll miss Lori and Jeff. I'll miss cracking the mic every morning and laughing and playing and sharing stories with you. I'll miss Portland, Maine and our cozy little home on Munjoy Hill.

The best part about all of this is New York City isn't that far. New York City has radio stations, lots of them. And Portland, Maine isn't going to disappear. I can always come back. I will continue to pursue my dreams in radio and the music industry in a much bigger city. And now that my mom finally has an iPhone, I can FaceTime with every member of my family when they miss me...

Thank you for welcoming me so quickly and kindly into The Q Morning Show family. Thank you Lori and Jeff, Herb, Brian, and AJ for taking a chance on me and making a dream come true. The last two years have given me every ounce of confidence I needed to make this big professional leap, while Chris has given me the support to get through this big life change on every other level.

I love Q97.9 and I can't wait to hear how The Q Morning Show sounds when I return to Maine to visit. You better believe I'll be calling in to gobble like a turkey on Thanksgiving and trying tirelessly to win concert tickets from Lori and Jeff, since I'll rejoin the world of dedicated (and prize eligible) Q listeners.

Thank you again for everything, Q97.9. I'll miss you more than you know.

If you want to see and hear about all of my adventures in NYC, feel free to follow my YouTube channel and Instagram.