I am from a small town in Massachusetts called Millis. It’s the kind of town where everyone knows everyone. I went to high school at Thayer Academy, a private school about forty-five minutes away. So essentially, I lived with my family, drove a car everywhere, and never really thought about paying bills or buying groceries or cleaning the bathroom. Sure we did chores, but I never had to do everything by myself. I had my own room and privacy. I also lived a pretty sheltered life, though it was no one’s fault but my own. I rarely went out on weekends, and often spent time studying or working. I was just trying to get through high school by drawing as little attention to myself as possible. 

Naturally, moving to NYC, and living with five roommates (not including myself) was a big adjustment. I was lucky though, because I had mentally been preparing myself for a lot worse than what I found. In the months before move-in, I had made spreadsheets, a budget, taken self-defense classes, and had been basically preparing to move to Gotham City. I was prepared to be thrown completely to the wolves, with no support at all. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. 

My roommates and I get along, I’ve made friends, and I’m doing well in all of my classes. I love what I’m learning and feel like I can finally be myself, with none of the worries or restraints that had tied me down in high school. For the first time in my life, I feel like I’ve found myself. I’m going out, and spending time with like-minded people, I’m learning about the world and having experiences that would be impossible at any other school. I have grown as both an artist and as a person, I am doing what I love, in a city that I love, surrounded by people that I love. Can I really ask for more than that? 

That isn’t to say that it has all been easy, afterall, it took me two months to figure out the subway, I’ve had to learn to budget out groceries, and I’ve also had to put myself out there more. It also took me until the day before Thanksgiving break to go to and use the dining hall. I’ve had to grow up fast, and watching my friends at other schools have a more conventional college experience is a strange feeling. Because while they are attending football games and pep rallies, I am going to Broadway shows and budgeting for Crumbl cookies for me and my roommates. I have to worry about getting lost on the subway or getting mugged while they just worry about math tests. So it’s a strange feeling, knowing that my college experience isn’t the same as everyone else’s, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I can confidently say that overall, there is nowhere else in the world I would rather be. I finally feel like I have a purpose and am taking steps to achieve my goals. 

Since coming to NYC, I have grown into the person I always knew I could be. I just never before had the opportunity. I am a braver, smarter, kinder, stronger person than I was three and a half months ago. I will always be grateful for my past, and everything that it taught me, but I am also so excited for what my future will bring.