diff --git a/Pages/Index.cshtml.cs b/Pages/Index.cshtml.cs
index 76fac09..363f2f0 100644
--- a/Pages/Index.cshtml.cs
+++ b/Pages/Index.cshtml.cs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ namespace StateJobsNYSubmit.Pages
     {
         private readonly ILogger<IndexModel> _logger;
         private PrivateData p = new PrivateData();
+        public UserData userData;
         public IndexModel(ILogger<IndexModel> logger)
         {
             _logger = logger;
@@ -20,7 +21,8 @@ namespace StateJobsNYSubmit.Pages
 
         public void OnGet()
         {
-            UserData userData = new UserData();
+            userData = new UserData();
+            userData.skillOptions = new List<string>();
             userData.visitCounter = 1;
             string cookieValue = Request.Cookies["PrivateData"];
             if (cookieValue != null) {