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Second Chances.

I often forget that just after college - before I lived in Brooklyn and long before I started my freelance career - I lived in a tiny apartment in Manhattan and worked as an intern at a fashion design studio. I was twenty-two, thrilled to be in the city, and more than ready to call myself a New Yorker. But, much to my dismay at the time, things didn't quite work out according to plan. More on my false start, this week on the Equals Record


Here's a bit from the new post: "When people ask how long I’ve lived in New York, invariably, my answer is, I moved here in 2009. This is, in fact, true, but - I have to admit – it isn’t the whole truth. I moved to New York for the first time the winter after graduating college - in large part, because my boyfriend at the time was finishing his last year at Columbia, and I was eager to close what had been a very challenging long-distance chapter of our relationship. Until then, I’d never lived outside California (as an adult, anyway), and like many recent college graduates, I’d never had to think about things like finding my own apartment or paying my own bills. I arrived in January 2008, suitcases in tow, ready to move in to a Morningside Heights apartment I’d never seen before. I had no plan for finding a job, and no savings. But, I reassured myself, this is what one does after college – moves away, starts a new life. I was nervous, but I was thrilled at the thought of becoming a New Yorker. I lasted just under six months."

You can see the rest at the Equals Record, here, and find past entries from my column, Looking Forward, here. I can't thank you enough for reading; your kindness, encouragement, and support each week really means the world.

Photo from my Instagram

12 comments:

  1. What a rough experience! NYC is January is the worst. I can't imagine anyone would stick around after that. You've got nothing to be ashamed of! I'm so happy that you decided to give the city another go and I'm glad to hear it's working out much better this time!

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  2. you write so eloquently.

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  3. I love this article! I can totally relate to this when I first moved to Toronto from Thailand for college.

    Now, I've moved to Japan from Toronto. Another transition, yet fun!

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  4. This was very touching and honest. Some New Yorkers become jaded and don't realize the hard transition most people go through when they move here. I don't think you failed though, and look you are now here!! The rent, however, really does suck though!

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  5. Thanks, guys. Joanne, you're telling me :)

    Fai, it sounds like you've had some amazing adventures!

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  6. Seconds chances are one of the best parts of being alive because sometimes we need one of those to see things clearly, right? I especially love second chances to love anything or anybody. You were very lucky (and brave) for having a second chance to fall in love with NYC.

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  7. So beautifully said. Thank you, Carol.

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  8. So many people let the first impression decide their entire opinion. I'm glad you gave it another chance... and you weren't afraid to take another leap of faith. :)

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  9. Shoko - I just left a comment over on the Equals Record, but I just wanted to tell you here too: I admire your strength and courage on so many levels. Thanks for sharing this story with us - I'm sure it has inspired many!

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  10. I think you are incredibly brave, esp to give it a second chance. I wish I had enough courage to do what you did. Though, there's still time for me to decide ...

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  11. Thank you all for your incredibly kind words!

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