The story starts with a girl named Melissa. Intrigued by mysterious, far-off destinations, Melissa took off in 2013 to discover new places. She returned three months later, anew, yet still yearning for the experience to bring her dreams to fruition. At the risk of falling under the spell of comfort and routine, she bravely brought her shield into battle at a fast-paced, Durham based ad agency called Method Savvy.
Working as a Project Manager, Melissa floundered, then flourished. At first, it was difficult to keep her head above water. Demanding clients and a hard-working, yet occasionally frazzled team transformed her from a brazen adventurer to a warrior, a Mother of Dragons if you will, with the ability to foresee obstacles and keep cool under pressure. With the close supervision of the tough, but fair leader, Jake, Melissa emerged from her two-year journey proud and triumphant.
Still, her entrepreneurial, creative spirit was not settled. She longed for the days of eating fermented shark in remote areas of Iceland, meeting new people, and late nights drinking coffee and organizing stories into intriguing, unique blog posts. Missing the flexibility of remote work, and longing to dive back into the world of story-telling, Melissa decided to do a brave, yet seemingly crazy thing: she decided to quit.
“But what will you do?” friends, family and co-workers cried out. “Where will you go? What will you be?”
“I don’t know,” replied Melissa, finally feeling equipped enough to be on her own. “But I have to try.”
Free from the chain at her desk, Melissa embarked on a quest for adventure and discovery, with her SUV/DIY camper, integrity, and oversized stuffed animal but actual pet dog, Morrie, in tow. From Maine to Maryland, from the rolling hills of New Hampshire to the mountains of Asheville, Melissa has drifted, working as a freelance writer and project manager whilst in search of her next big opportunity.