For many college students, spring break usually consists of heading somewhere tropical with your friends. But for me, it meant heading back home to Manhattan, New York City — a place that, even living there my whole life, never fails to surprise me. While others may have relaxed the whole week on a beautiful beach, I found different forms of relaxation back home.
Living just three and a half hours away from the University of Rhode Island makes home an easy journey, but that doesn’t mean the whole break was rest. I spent my days working at the evening concerts for the full running time, and in the evenings, I made it a priority to catch up with friends and family.
One of the best parts of coming home is revisiting favorite restaurants and finding new ones. There is something so nostalgic about sharing a meal with someone who knew you before college, before the stress of starting your own life — someone who reminds you of who you were before you left.
A highlight of my break was volunteering as an usher at the New York Philharmonic which is the official orchestra for New York City. I have always been involved with the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, even before college. But this time, I got to be part of it in a new way. The Philharmonic was putting on its Young People’s Concerts series designed to introduce kids to classical music. These performances are a little less formal and more interactive. Watching children experience live orchestra music was a reminder of how powerful the arts in New York are.
The city, as always, had endless energy and constant movement; it gave me a sense of comfort. It was refreshing to be a busy person in a city filled with busy people, I was back into the rhythm of home — bike riding to work and getting on the train.
As much as it would be nice to lay on the beach, I had so much fun back home. I rediscovered the beauty of a place I love. This break was not about getting away but about reconnecting with things that make me who I am. In a city like New York, there is never a boring day, there is always something new to discover, even when it’s home.
