Life in New York City | Student Blog

“That’s another reason I love New York. Just like that, it can go from bad to cute.” —Carrie Bradshaw

I graduate on May 24 and can’t believe it’s nearly here! A big part of transitioning out of school is figuring out where I want to live. Most of my classmates and friends will be staying in New York, but where do I want to go? This question has gotten me thinking about my love affair with NYC and all that it has to offer. The good, the bad, and the indifferent. 

I’m a Londoner and so naturally I love the ambition of city life—the fast-paced reality of it and the people. However, because of that, it’s also got me thinking about other things I haven’t experienced, and moving to L.A. is another option. The lifestyle would be very different and so would the challenges. Next week I embark on my L.A. showcase trip, and I’m really looking forward to exploring the city and figuring out whether or not it could be a possible place to call home for a while.

What I can do for now is reflect on my time in New York. The moment I arrived in New York all I could think about was Carrie Bradshaw lying across those NYC buses and that Sex and the City theme music as yellow cabs lined up outside the airport. This was the city that I had known as the shopping capital of the world, a place bursting with attractions, where people love to eat and drink and have a good time, artists were made there—this was the Big Apple! But on my way to the Juilliard halls, barely making it in my nauseous state after a hellish cab journey, traffic galore, and a rude encounter with a security guard, I quickly learned that New York was not all the glitz and glamour I had naively perceived it to be despite the fact that I was looking on the rather extravagant view of Lincoln Center. 

All that is to say that from that moment until now, I truly believe that New York will prepare you for any place on earth. The Amazon—the place—nothing in comparison! You will learn a lot about yourself and develop a type of resiliency that will help you throughout your life once you've lived here. It’s a hardworking city, and you’ll be left out to dry if you’re lazy, but it’s also a city full of youth, dreams, and legacy. There are also some wonderful boroughs with communities and families of all backgrounds. Another benefit is that (depending on the type of person you are) in New York all you really need to know is where your favorite coffeeshop, local park, and bookstore are to be happy. Well, that and where your best friends are! There are also great museums, theater, dance, and concerts to attend! It’s a cultural hub of possibilities and endless things to do. And public transport to get around to all of the places you want to go. 

What it doesn’t have? The quiet. The sunshine. The breath or space that a place without high-rise buildings can have (you can find it here, but you have to seek it out). The newness. The waves. Although I’ve heard terrible things about traffic in L.A. And I’m sure will encounter more of the pros and cons when I get there next week. 

I’m so exited for this trip and to get a break from NYC. But in also honoring this city that I love so much—and that has given me so much—I will leave you with this quote, “That’s another reason I love New York. Just like that, it can go from bad to cute.” —Carrie Bradshaw

Hannah Rose