Being from the greater New York City area is not necessarily a defining characteristic here at Cornell – yet there is much more to it.
I have been fortunate enough to see both suburban and urban living. I was born and raised in New York City until the age of five. Once my younger brother was born, my parents realized that they needed more space to raise two active boys and therefore made the decision to relocate to a suburb of NYC and landed in Port Washington.
Port Washington, commonly referred to as “Port”, is a small town on the north shore of Long Island with a population of around 16,000. This was a major change of pace. Port is primarily made up of residential properties, with 3 main roads filled with mainly mom-and-pop shops and many residents commute daily into NYC. It is a beautiful, tranquil, safe, slow-paced lifestyle town – almost the polar opposite to living in NYC. Yet, being just a 40-minute train ride away, utilizing and embracing New York City is part of the town culture.
Until this summer, NYC has always been a place I would go to have dinner with friends and family or to go to a concert. Yet after having the opportunity to work there this summer, my view of the city, as well as my hometown, has changed. I lived at home and therefore joined the hoards of people commuting from Long Island into Penn Station, one of the two major metro hubs of Manhattan. I would then take the subway uptown to my office. I have always thought I was comfortable in the city and was aware of the lifestyle as I was born there and spent a lot of time there throughout my life, but on my first day of working there I realized that I was just about as clueless as all other NYC first-timers. Aside from being able to navigate the streets, I did not know where to grab lunch, which subways took me in the right direction, or just about anything other than how to get to my office. As the summer progressed, I began to explore the city. I was lucky enough that my company hosted after-work events all over the city at different rooftop spaces and bowling alleys that I was slowly learning about all the hidden activities that exist. It truly is an endless city with opportunities catering to every person, no matter your interests. Living at home and spending the days in the city provided me the comfort of a casual and restful night while experiencing a chaotic, long, and busy day.
After reflecting on this experience, I was able to see myself fitting into the lifestyle, especially as a young graduate. The convenience of public transportation and the grid-like structure makes travel extremely easy and provides you the opportunity and freedom to explore and experience Manhattan to the full extent. This is an ideal place for a post-graduate to begin their professional career as well as enter a vibrant social scene. From the countless job opportunities to the diverse cultures and experiences, this lively city has something for everyone.
Overall, I am lucky that I was exposed to and became comfortable with being in New York City from a young age. I am excited to move there after graduation and finally being able to completely immerse myself in the high-paced culture and lifestyle while I still can. It is the ideal city for me as I am just a short train ride from my home if I want a home-cooked meal, yet in a place where I can grow into myself and become fully independent in a city where I feel comfortable.
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