Jennifer Hyatt

The story of why, when and how you decided to move here (or stay here): I worked for five years after college—two years at 3M in Minnesota and three years at SUNY College at Brockport. Then I went back to law school. After that, I was looking for jobs as a prosecutor in New York. I decided that Western New York was the best place, as the salary was only $1,000 lower than for D.A.s in New York City, but that money goes an awful lot further up here. My choice was between Erie and Monroe counties, and Monroe was my first choice, mainly because of the office structure and fantastic mentor I currently have.

Where you went to undergraduate college / graduate school: B.A. chemistry, Carleton College; master’s degree work in higher education administration, University of Minnesota; J.D., SUNY Buffalo

Where you work now and your job title: Assistant district attorney, Monroe County District Attorney’s Office

Where do you live? Corn Hill

What do you like about life in Rochester? For a smaller city, there always seems to be something going on, especially in the summer. And I’ve found it quite easy to meet people.

What do you do for fun? Go to the gym (Downtown Fitness), watch movies, go to the wineries, play DDR and other video games, socialize at RYP events, take advantage of the fantastic library system, go to the various minor league sporting events, enjoy the summer festivals, usher at the Auditorium Theatre (so I can see the shows for free).

What would you tell a college student (who is trying to decide where to live after graduation) about what life is like here post-college? It’s affordable enough to lessen the stress about money and small enough so that it’s easy to meet people in a similar situation to you. Rochester Young Professionals provides a built-in structure as a jumping-off point to making friends. The city also has a lot of cultural events and opportunities for its size.

What’s the best first step to making friends and finding your way around? It’s easy to get involved with the community as long as you’re willing to take a little bit of a risk and put yourself out there. Try RYP, Meetup groups, City Walk. Find a group that’s made up of people you can relate to, then start building relationships.
[Posted in 2009]