Three years ago, with equal parts excitement and apprehension, I started a new chapter in Washington, D.C., as a freshman at American University.

Excitement at the idea of being able to live and study, immersed in a fast-paced, dynamic city in the heart of our nation’s government. Apprehension at the idea of moving away from the security and familiarity of my hometown, where people smile and wave when you pass them on the street.

Tulsa and D.C. are different in many ways, but I’ve found a sense of home and belonging in both places. The people in each city remind me we are much more similar than we are different, and I feel incredibly lucky to move between these two places, exploring different ways of life and culture.

Both cities have their issues, crime chief among them. But overwhelmi

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