This is my first couple months living in “The Big Apple” and I have come to learn a lot. For example: don’t buy cheap shit from a street vendors because they just want a quick buck, take the 6 train to school and back home, and learn to keep all your change because it will be used to buy your next meal. They say that you really don’t know yourself until you step out of your confront zone. Well growing up, we all experience that change that defines who we are for the rest of our lives. Moving to New York, a city full of stranger, is what set me off to become independent.
The first instance is when it was the week of midterms. I had no idea what to expect from my first midterm. We had so much information we needed to know that I just didn’t know where to start. Of course, I procrastinated which lead to taking a trip to Time Square. A vendor came running up to me, like “STRESS” was plastered on my forehead, and offered me a cheap pass to one of the top spas of NYC. This deal was way too good to be true. I love going to the spa, but a full treatment for only $30. Well that was my first lesson; don’t buy cheap shit from vendors off the street. This top spa was: 1) in deep Harlem 2) had dust and peeling paint on the walls and 3) smelled like week’s worth of rotten food.
The second instance was when I visited Brooklyn for the first time. I waiting for the train to head to school, well I thought it would be faster if I took another train. Little did I know that this train didn’t stop at 23rd street. So I sat there listening till I heard 23rd, until I somehow landed in Brooklyn.
The third instance is when I realized a penny goes a long way. The city’s prices are about double what they were in Ohio. I learned something about myself, that money problems were my greatest fear. Back in the day if I needed $10, I would ask my parents and they would give me that $10.I had to learn money managing skills, so I wouldn’t end up eating pizza for every meal. I was given “X” amount and I had to spend a certain limit within a day.
Over all, I had to learn how to take care of myself. Yes, I learned my lessons the hard way. But now have grown up to be more independent.
