Dear NYC,
It’s been 5 years since we first met. I was a young, fearless 22-year-old with big dreams. I only knew you from what I had seen on TV and heard in songs. I’ll never forget hopping in the white minivan with my mom, grandma and brother to drive 800 miles from Chicago to you.
I signed a sublet for the summer with a stranger who I met through a mutual friend on Facebook. Looking back at this now, I’m shocked I was never scared or nervous. I was filled with utter excitement for you, “The Big Apple” and my dream internship.
Once we arrived to you, the first place I wanted to go was Times Square. Cheesy, I know, but I was truly blinded by the lights. I was in awe and admiration. In my heart, the second I got to you I knew I needed to live here longer than my 10 -week summer internship. I hustled hard every day to turn my internship into a full-time offer. I’ll never forget sitting in the HR office and crying when I was presented with the offer. It was all happening.
The hardest part of this whole journey was knowing that wanting you meant leaving behind my friends and family. I’ve lost friendships that I thought would last a lifetime. My parents have gotten divorced. My family no longer lives in the house that I knew so well. There have been some pretty painful moments in the past 5 years, but somehow the happiness you bring me trumps the pain and inspires me to keep going.
The first couple years it was just you and me. I had no friends. On the weekends, I would hop on a subway (at the time I didn’t even know the difference between them) and get lost. We had some pretty fun adventures. As time passed, you helped me find my way. You gave me confidence I didn’t know I had. One of the best parts of you is the people you’ve brought into my life. I may have lost a friend or two back in Chicago, but you made sure you brought someone in my life so that I was never alone. I’ve made some pretty remarkable friends. I even have a boyfriend now, who knew?! 22-year-old me thought it was just going to be us two forever. So, thanks for that.
NYC, you fill me with inspiration. You challenge me. You’ve kept me safe in some of the darkest and scariest moments. You’ve helped me blossom from a young girl into a woman. You’ve become my home. Most importantly, you keep my dreams alive.
Happy 5 years.
Love,
Abigail