The author took a great risk by moving from their hometown to Los Angeles against others' advice. They were accompanied on the risky move by their cat Kona and best friend Sally. In LA, the author felt like an outsider at times but the risk led them to find new lifelong friends and a new career path by applying to graduate school. The biggest risks the author took were falling in love, getting married in a black dress, and committing to sobriety at a young age while living in Los Angeles. They believe that without risk, there is no reward or true life.

1. ALL LIFE IS A RISK
Describe a time when you took a great risk.
What was the outcome?
“Life is a journey, not a destination.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

2. A GREAT RISK - MOVING TO LOS ANGELES
• The sky my first night in Los Angeles.

3. EVERYONE SAID NOT TO TAKE THE RISK
• But I am a triple Leo and risk is something I have to take, it’s the way I find my true
authentic self.

4. I WAS NOT ALONE…KONA MY CAT TOOK THE
RISK WITH ME…
• He’s a cool cat.

5. AND SO DID MY BEST FRIEND SALLY
• My two pals. They both needed to take a risk too.

6. LA IS THE CAPITAL OF RISK TAKING
• Picture taken my friends home in the Hollywood Hills, a new friend and now a lifelong
friend.

7. TAKING A RISK SOMETIMES MAKES YOU FEEL
LIKE AN OUTSIDER
• Many days I felt like an alien. Like I didn’t belong.

8. RISK CAUSES AN IDENTITY CRISIS…
• My career was changing rapidly and so was technology. I had to figure out where I fit.

9. THE RISK I TOOK MOVING TO LA LEAD ME ON
THE PATH TO FIND A NEW CAREER
• I realized I needed to apply for Graduate School. It was time for a new career and to work
towards something different.

10. I ALSO FELL MADLY IN LOVE…
• It is a risk to love. What if it doesn’t work out? Ah, but what if it does. – Peter McWilliams

11. AND GOT MARRIED….
• In a black dress…another risk.

12. SO DESCRIBING WHEN I TOOK A GREAT RISK IS
HARD, I’VE TAKEN SO MANY
• The biggest risk I have taken was my plunge into sobriety. I was very young, but it was
the truth of my situation. May 30th, 2014, I turned 20 years sober, while living in Los
Angeles. I am applying to Graduate school and I am taking risks every second of every
day because I know without risk, there is no reward, no gain, and no true life.