A Year In New York

I’ve always loved New York. Something about the city buzz — that unique energy that is so apparent there — has always pulled me. While I grew up in a small town, from a very young age I knew that eventually I would end up in New York. I didn’t know when or how, but I just knew that it would happen. In spring of 2017 I was given an opportunity. I was accepted into the New School; a college located right in the heart of Manhattan. So, without even thinking twice, I confirmed my spot at the school and started to prepare for the move. Scary? Yes. But I knew that by making this move, I was fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine and to me that was priceless.

Since moving back to Los Angeles back in May, my life has been pretty nonstop and I really haven’t had the chance to reflect on my past year. But as classes are just getting started, I can’t help but think back to this time last year and everything that has happened in my life since then.

While I only spent a year in New York, I know with 100% certainty that making the decision to move there was the best thing that I’ve done for myself in a long time. That city always has and still does inspire me because of the unique and independent, yet insanely hard working and driven people that make it up. New York is a beast and it can be overwhelming and lonely at times, but everyone that lives there has a deep love and respect for the city and it was so cool to be a part of that.

Over the course of the year that I lived in New York, I gained independence and confidence. I was surrounded by people that were so unapologetically themselves, and it inspired me to be more myself. Being just one person in a city with a population of nearly 8.5 million really put things into perspective. When you’re surrounded by so many people that are all out doing their own thing, you start to realize that no one’s really paying much attention to you… and while that can be be scary and isolating, it was also liberating because it allowed me to be the person that I wanted to be without even thinking twice.

Lastly, I learned to appreciate the little moments in life and to find beauty in what others might view as the ordinary and mundane. I stopped solely focusing just on the bigger picture and allowed myself to zoom in an focus on those small, seemingly insignificant moments that make it up. I learned to look for the silver lining in even the dullest moments, which in turn shifted my entire perspective on life. When you spend your time focusing on the beauty in life, you start to live in abundance.

It’s hard to put into words all that this past year has meant for me. I’m eternally grateful for my experience and everything that I learned along the way, and I look forward to seeing what this next year has in store.

-seb.