Being a twenty-something in New York City isn't always the glam that people may think it is. Now, when I say people, I'm referring to that Aunt Patty or cousin Colleen who live down South or out West we all know and have. If you're twenty-something and living in New York City, it's really you're defining moment. I'm not just talking about going to a bar and having yourself a glass of whiskey, although it is deserved after surviving another week. As it's been said plenty of times, this city can make you or break you. If you've really thrown yourself out there into the concrete jungle we call Manhattan, then chances are you've experienced this whirlwind. However, being twenty-something, this is when we're trying to find our perspective.
High school was easy. I have to say, I honestly had the time of my life creatively throughout my high school years and from that I gained a direction. College was a blast. My downfall was becoming lazy and the procrastinator who would slack off and save last minute projects till only a few hours before they were due. What I learned: I work well under pressure. Post-grad has been the toughest. As every college graduate may feel...you just want to belong somewhere. You spend all these years growing and learning within the education system to advance and prepare yourself for a career that will kickstart the 'beginning' of your life. Who's to say we haven't already begun? It's a process, everyone knows that. Some of us are more lucky than others but I do believe in the saying that, 'good things come to those who wait.' Just how long do we honestly have to wait, though?
Truth is, we're all looking for something. Whether it's a new friend, a new boyfriend or girlfriend, a job, or even a new apartment...we're constantly on the search. I'm sure we'll redefine ourselves numerous times down the path of life. Change is only bound to occur, you can't stop it - and sometimes change is even good. Believe it or not, everything changes...nothing ever stays the same. We take our highs and lows with us and build. Build toward something you hope to achieve or want to achieve.
I can't say I'm an individual who has it all figured out. As nice as that would be, I don't think I would ever want to have it all figured out because then there would never be that element of surprise. Being twenty-something and living in New York City, I never know what to expect. Most days I am utterly in love with this city and could not imagine myself living anywhere else, and some days I absolutely hate everything that it is. Either way, I came here for a reason. I wanted to build a life here. I wanted to be educated in New York City, I wanted to live in New York City, and I wanted to fall in love in New York City. So far, I've done all that I've wanted and continue to push for myself in this thriving Metropolis of an island.
Will I stay here in NYC forever? Who knows. Maybe yes, or probably not. I can't tell, and I don't want to just yet. Do I wish my life would come together faster sometimes? Of course. That's only human. I would love to know if that job interview went well enough that I'll get the job, or will one day I have a stabilized rent? Questions that cannot be answered. Yes, it's frustrating but we're young and this is what's expected. Sometimes you just need to laugh it off and take a break. Do something for yourself. I've found that it's good to keep your creative edge and constantly find things or people who inspire you on a day-to-day basis. As I said before, I loved high school. Those are the days I believe that you begin to realize what you want to aim for in life.
Those are the days you pick your own elective classes based on your interests, you start picking out your major and applying to colleges that you want to learn from. It's an on-going process of making decisions to become a young-adult and prepare yourself for the 'real-world.' I remember challenging myself at everything I wanted to do or hoped to do. I wanted to be part of the school newspaper because I was interested in writing...I made it happen. I wanted to re-kindle my love for dance so I looked into joining a ballet class...I made it happen. I sometimes think as we grow older we lose the will to want to make things happen for ourselves and just settle for what we think can get us by. We should learn to make the things we want for ourselves happen.
On that note, be kind to others and especially yourselves. Fight for what you want and make it happen. Being twenty-something doesn't always necessarily mean you have to have your shit together. Figure out where you want to go and then make it happen, and if you're living in New York City, you've got the best backyard in the world to make that happen for yourself. Be young, live wild, and work hard. Easy as that.
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