Moving to a new city is simultaneously exciting and nerve-wracking. Will it be everything you hoped it would be? Will it change your life for the better? After spending almost a full semester living in New York City, many freshmen are beginning to find their own answers to these questions.
For some, the concrete jungle is a stark contrast to their more rural homes, giving them an increased appreciation for where they come from. “NYC has made me respect nature more as I have to seek out green spaces,” freshman Eli Shirk reflected. “I’m from Vermont, and I never thought I’d say this, but I miss the smell of cow manure.” The noise and hustle of the city is also a new experience for those from calm, rural areas – but it is a welcome change for some. “I’d say NYC has made me calmer in public just because of how many people there are,” Shirk explained. “I feel like the crowds are homey and the noise is comforting oddly enough.”
One of the city’s unique perks is its walkability and ease of transportation. Students coming from less metropolitan areas may not have had the same privileges, relying on driving cars to get them from place to place. This newfound freedom is something that many freshmen have found refreshing. Freshman Lauren Young found that the ability to “[walk] around the city at night when it’s all lit up and [take] the subway from Manhattan to Queens to wherever” makes living in New York “a special and freeing experience and a constant reminder to be grateful.” Not only can students move about more freely, but they get to do so on their own without the familiarity and shelter of home. This allows for New York City to inspire many of Pace’s freshmen to branch out and grow as individuals. “It’s been so amazing getting to be independent and learning to navigate the city,” reflected freshman Grace Birsner.
The increased and diverse connections New York City presents have also changed freshmen’s lives for the better even in the short time they’ve lived here. Freshman Tierra “T” Scott expressed that “New York City has shown me so much relating to culture, politics, achieving my dreams, and I love that I get to go to school here!” Coming all the way from Texas, the Herald’s own contributor Ava Glass has had a similar experience in her new environment. “I think I’m definitely able to express myself more; everyone is so in their own world that it gives you a chance to explore each aspect of yourself,” she reflected. “The best thing since the move has been meeting all kinds of different people with a different background than me, and bonding over what we hope the future holds.”
Despite the many changes that life in the city brought this year’s freshmen, many seem to be enjoying the unique perks it brings! For more on the experience of adapting to life in New York City, check out Ava Glass’s column, “Nonchalance in the City: The Outside Perspective,” where she “dissects a cross-country move and figures out how to adjust to a brand-new life.”