My Own Journey Essay

When I first came to New York, it was a completely different world to me. It was the first time I was away from my family and my loved ones, and I haven’t noticed that it would be such a long journey until I landed to NYC after a 10 hour flight. At first it was very scary, and as a shy person, it was difficult for me to adapt to this new environment.

Traveling between the Bronx and Manhattan has allowed me to see that even though they are so close in distance, everyone is yet so far. Being raised in the Bronx has allowed me to gain a sense of home and recognition, but also how stereotypes are meant to deceive us. The Bronx is labeled as a dangerous place, where violence occurs, but people neglect the beauty and happiness that surrounds it too. Meanwhile, when people think of Manhattan, they see it as the heart of New York where everyone is living their dreams. When in reality, the “heart” of New York is much more distant from itself, and that is not just because it is on an island.

New York City, the shining icon of the American dream and the mixing pot of cultures, was but a name I knew when I was young. Nine years ago, I finally set foot on the fabled city when my family immigrated to the United States. The gigantic airport, JFK International, spanned for miles and its terminals stood proudly over the jumbo jets below. That night, nausea from the plane’s descension and the entropic movements of my aunt’s Jeep prevented me from seeing the outside world. I rested my head on my mom’s lap while still imaging what the city was like.

The grand size of the city draws us in the most as it gives us the most intimacy. Intimacy, in being able to keep to ourselves and play a larger role in our own lives, makes the city worthwhile. However, it is exceedingly easy to lose touch with the historical aspects of the city. We love New York for the aesthetics, but continue to take the historical culture for granted. In the past three weeks, I learned to take a step back and keep note that each building, bridge, and infrastructure I encounter has been built and seen by someone before me. Perhaps the monumental building I pass everyday was built or seen by a classmate’s immigrant great ancestor. I have a deeper appreciation for the landmarks surrounding me. In summation, I take the opprotunity to recognize the same Ellis Island I pass on my way to St. John’s University is the same landmark, “an approximate twelve million immigrants,” (Staff) experienced as they made their way towards the mysterious yet promising land of the United States of America.

This may sound cliche and ordinary, but it is one hundred percent true; as a young boy, one of my biggest dreams has always been to attend NYU. NYU is in the heart and soul of New York, Manhattan, where the culture is different and environment is uniquely filled with: intellectual, cultural, and unbelievable first time experiences. Growing up, I have lived in one of the most indistinguishable neighborhoods in one of the most diverse boroughs in New York; Flushing, Queens, home of the bizarre and unusual. Although I have lived in New York my entire life, I have never actually experienced the city life. I have always been a suburban type of kid, and I believe it is finally time for a change. It is time to experience the ethnic diversity that

Growing up in the small suburban city of Lewisville, I have always fantasized about living in a big city with tall skyscrapers, extremely diverse cultures, beautiful sights, and to be frank, heavy traffic accompanied with blaring horns and shouting from drivers with road rage. New York is where I want to live and attend school, not only for its great adventures in the city but, because it is a cradle for the arts in America. At the age of three, I was exposed to the arts

As I walked out of the airport into new territory, I could immediately feel the change in atmosphere. The air once chilled from morning dew, had turned into radiating heat from the cement and metal structures in the evening sun. As I looked out in my jeans and tee-shirt, I felt out of place. I was surrounded by the 8.55 million people who populate New York City. Each person with their own style and demeanour. As I walked down streets in search of the correct subway stop with my church group, everyone could tell that we were tourists. We were lugging our impossibly heavy suitcases through the streets, down the unforgiving stairs, and onto the crowded subway. After walking up and down what felt like hundreds of steps and changed subway trains

Being here in the city for one afternoon or day wouldn’t allow to experience the new surroundings. Its important that the individual who comes to the Big Apple stays long enough to notice a difference in what they saw in their mid afternoon walk yesterday. One wonders ,” Hey, was that was always there?”, or “ Woah did they put that in overnight?”. There is no typical day in New York City. The weirdness we see becomes so normal that if something were to stay the same for so long it would get boring. “City Limits," by Colson Whitehead touches on the New Yorkers thoughts on the city, explaining the change we New Yorkers go

The sounds of the city penetrated the walls of the cab as we drove through the streets of Manhattan. I could hardly wait to partake in the action that was happening outside. The buildings themselves were an amazing site to behold. The buildings took on personalities of their own. Each building was bigger and more graceful than the next. When lights were added to the mix it was a dazzling combination. The city itself felt like a great big hug, and I felt overwhelmed by its power. The city allowed me to become part of it just like many others many years ago who immigrated to this awesome city. As I was looking out of the cab I finally got to see in person the sight of all sights; Times Square. The main juncture of

Being in new York allows people to be exposed to art, media, culture all in one place. There is no place like New York which is why so many people flock to America’s most populated city. Since it is so desirable to live the lifestyle, prices have skyrocket on the island of manhattan as well as surrounding areas. This results in people working themselves to death, and in return losing their minds. Zadie writes about people that come to NYC to make something of themselves, and in return adapt to a busy restless life style. Thankfully, I have yet to encounter the anxieties that come with trying to make a life in one of the most expensive cities in the world, which is why I found my peace quite easily at the Highline. Praised to be one of the

I. Personal Profile: As I ponder over my thoughts and reflect on where I am in my journey of spiritual growth, all I can do is just thank God for all He has done. My spiritual journey has been full of ups and downs, but I would not change any of it because I had to go through the things I have went through to get to where I am today. Before I started living fully for Jesus, I was just existing and living my life without a purpose. I was lost and was seeking validation from everyone but God. My spiritual journey did not start until I realized that I was searching for happiness in all wrong places, and that my happiness was found in God. Once I discovered that and began building a relationship with God, my love began to increase for Him and all He has done. I began to see things clearer and God started removing toxic people out of my life and molding me into what he created me to be. In this season of my journey, I believe God is taking me through the pruning phase. In john 15:2 it says, “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it do that it may bear more fruit.” Jesus is stripping me from everything that no longer serves a purpose in my life. He is setting me apart and preparing me for my purpose on earth. God is changing everything about me from the inside out, and removing anything that is not of him and making me more like him. He is making me very uncomfortable, so that I have no choice but to learn to fully

Coming from a completely a completely different side of the world where a completely different language is spoken, distinct cultural norms exist, I had to relearn what I previously knew so well. I would like to think of my writing journey as being divided into three stages of school, Elementary, Middle, and Highschool. Each stage equally important in bringing out my faults and mistakes in understanding the English language and ultimately leading me to unlock my full potential as a writer.

My life has been a crazy roller coaster with many events that have affected my life all in different ways. There have been times where my life has been at its highest peak in the world then it falls down, right into a deep valley. From the time my lovable younger sister came into my life to when my grandpa had a near death experience, I have learned many valuable lessons through the rough times as well as the more happy times. When I was a young girl, my mom had always told me the same thing over and over again. I never really thought about how a few words would have a deep effect on me in a short amount of time.

As a very small child I don’t remember too much, but the things that I do remember were seen through a child’s eyes that has made me the person that I am today and I will always have those memory’s with me until my last breath on this earth. In this essay I intend to show how my childhood and adult life to this point has influenced my life, my journey. By utilizing the adult development theories from this class I also intend on showing how they relate to my Life experiences and where I am today as an Adult student.

My journey the day I left my home country in search of a better life was not as pleasurable or exciting as I expected. Although it was not a long flight, the accumulation of unexpected vicissitudes during the trip made my dream of traveling an absolute nightmare. Not only my sadness to be leaving my family behind, the uncertainty to fly alone and for the first time, or my inexperience with the procedures at the airport contributed to this calamity, but even my neighbor on the plane added his bit of sand in the affair. All this situation was such traumatic to me that I even considered never daring to fly again.