Personal Essay: Moving To New York City

Growing up in Manhattan was an epitome of excitement. Back in the day, and also to its founding, New York has always been a beehive of activities. Going down memory lane, I reminisce on trips that we’d take to loads of places around the city for entertainment during weekends and on holidays. Raised by Spanish immigrants, my father was a chef in a small but busy restaurant along Fifth Avenue. Since I can recall, fifth avenue has always had some of the major and well known fashion stores and hotels in the city. This would have

Those who know me personally, know that I wouldn’t be where I am right now without my parents. In order to give me the best opportunities, both my parents, born and raised in Vietnam, made many sacrifices, one of which included moving to the states. Larissa Martinez, McKinney Boyd High School’s 2016 Valedictorian, words, “while parents metaphorically move mountains for their children, you (her mom) literally moved countries for my sister and me,” have left a mark on me and although my story may not be to her extent, I can certainly say that my parents did the same.

An opportunity arose to visit the city of my dreams. My school’s basketball team was participating in a tournament at Yeshiva University, and my friend Zach had an apartment that we could stay in nearby in Washington Heights. My parents were skeptical at first, because they were concerned with the safety of Washington Heights. I eventually persuaded them to let me stay with Zach, when my uncle Rich volunteered to backstop my trip. I began to contact my uncle Rich who lives in the Upper East Side of New York, to see if he had any advice on what to do while in New York. He worked together with me to brainstorm ideas of how to maximize my trip. I tried to get Zach involved with the planning but he became overwhelmed, and preferred to live by the play it by ear mentality. After a few weeks of planning with Rich, it came time to board the plane in West Palm Beach. Zach and I sat next to a girl who was a native New Yorker. I asked her “what do you do for fun in New York.” She responded by saying “ the best part of New York is getting lost.” I thought that she had an interesting response, but I didn’t plan on getting lost.

Despite the fact that the alarm is blaring at an earlier time than usual, I couldn’t be anymore ecstatic. I’d forgotten what it’s like to wake up in the City that never sleeps. Quickly getting dressed and running out the door, I look over my schedule. Still in disbelief that I’m actually here, and the fact that the city is my campus still amazes me. I make it through the hustle and bustle of the city streets that only New York can provide. I run into some girls that I recognized from orientation who seem to be lost, I point them in the right direction of the D train. Already knowing the Subway and street systems definitely helps me out and makes me happy to know I can help fellow students as well. New York City was my playground as a child,

I've been meaning to write, but work has been mighty tiring. Sally and I are in good health thanks be to God. I was also blessed to find both lodging and gainful employment. Our living arrangements are modest. Sally and I share two rooms in an attic for which we pay $4 a month. We live in what is called tenement housing. It is rather dark and it gets hot enough during the summer that we escape to the roof for respite from the heat. There is also the spread of disease to worry about. Sally and I have been lucky enough to avoid getting sick, but with people living so close to together and houses being packed closer together than sardines I fear that our luck will run out soon. We try our best to keep our home tidy, but there is not much we can

Growing up in a small town near the border of Arizona, I had always displayed an interest in seeing the world–the different cities and sceneries. But at the same time, I felt at home in Arizona. I breathed for the desert air, the grinched-colored cacti, and the occasional roadrunners. Imagine my surprise when I found out, shortly after my parents split, I was moving to New York City.

It was June of 2013 and I was in my room cooling, watching “Good Luck Charlie”. My mom came into my room saying that she was ready to move out of New York. Obviously I did not want to move out of the city I was born in. My mom never liked living in New York, so she always thought about moving. So the plan was to move in August. Time went by and I was thinking about what North Carolina would be like. I really wasn’t thinking about the friends I was leaving in Brooklyn, that never crossed my mind.

I have chosen essay topic number three. Describe a time when you realized something was not as it seemed and how it affected you.

Ever since I was a little girl, New York City always seemed like a place that was magical. My family’s TV on Thanksgiving was always broadcasting the enormous balloons, extravagant floats, and millions of people lining the streets of the city for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Freshman year, excited squeals and giggles erupted from my brother and I after our parents told us that we would be visiting New York City for the first time to witness the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. After several months of waiting and lots of turbulence, our plane hit the landing with a thunk at Laguardia airport and reality set in: we were in the city. Walking out of the airport was absolutely surreal. The sights, sounds, and smells surrounded my family and

While I was growing up, I lived in many places. I was born in Budapest, Hungary and lived there until my father finished his medical degree when I was two years old. Soon after, for financial reasons, my family and I moved to the United States. First we lived in Missouri for five years, next we moved to North Carolina to be closer to our family. Periodically we returned to Hungary to visit relatives. With each visit, I learned more and more about Hungary, the language, and European culture. Luckily my mother had the wisdom to take my brothers and I back to Hungary to do a year of schooling there. That single year expanded my perspective of the world, it was no longer the United States as a separate entity from the rest of the world, but it

One day, my sister told me that I would have a better future if I come to the U.S.as permanent resident with my mom and stay there all my life. Of course United States offers you many opportunities to work and study. This made me feel grateful, but nevertheless, pained, because my sister gave me another opportunity to improve my skills and obviously, my life. I was going to have another life in another country and this made me stressful I didn’t know what I had to did. I was going to leave my country where I grew up, my father, my family, friends, my study, and other things that I always had and then learn how to grow up and be more independent in the United States.

Three days after my high school graduation, Randolph and I spent a day in a whole new city. Being from Roselle, I had never really been to one of the most beautiful city such as downtown Chicago. Spending the day in Chicago was like discovering a new way of living life that I had only heard from siblings and the news. I checked my bags to make sure I didn’t leave anything essential behind and I checked them five more times. we were sleepy during the flight as we arrived at the airport and made our way to the gate. The streets are filled with an atmosphere that is like a child on a shopping spree in a candy store. I was thrilled as I realized that I was in one of the biggest airport in the United States. watching the Chicago Cubs win the World Series was the most amazing feeling.

Living in America is a fantasy for a lot of people, but living in New York City is something even better, and more magical than any fantasy.

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

If I could live anywhere in the world and money wasn’t an issue I imagine myself to move to New York City, nowhere specifically I just know that I would live in NYC in what seems the world’s smallest apartment with massive windows that let lots of sunlight through.