During the summers of 2022 and 2023, I stayed on campus in University Heights and wrote appropriately titled columns, “Summer Lessons in University Heights,” that mythologized my experiences, encounters and general thoughts during those time periods. While I will continue the tradition of disseminating my summer pontifications, there is one drastic change: the location is no longer University Heights. The location is New York, New York.
To make a long story short, I had the opportunity to work and live in Lincoln Square while exploring other areas of the city in my downtime. I will forever be grateful for this time in the city and I already look back on it as one of the most formative experiences of my life. With all this reflecting on my time in the Big Apple, both while I was there and upon my return back to University Heights, I found it fitting to share these summer lessons for a final time.
It’s hard to fathom that the past few months acted as my final summer as a college student. As I enter my senior year with newfound outlooks and experiences, I will never forget the impact that this summer has had on my development.
1.) Public transportation rocks
New York City is famous for its intricate web of subway lines and bus routes that connect every neighborhood to every burrow. While some may be inclined to focus on the smell of body odor, the excruciating heat of the platform during the summer or the often dilapidated state of the subway car, nothing beats the unparalleled convenience of taking public transportation.
Yes, there are some major flaws housed within the current Metropolitan Transit Authority’s system (I am thinking of the ever increasing fare to ride) but the subway allows for the average person to have a high speed train take them from place to place.
Upon my return to Cleveland, I found myself missing the unrivaled convenience of taking public transportation. The RTA is a fine alternative but it does not have the same grandeur of the D train. This new found aversion to a Cleveland destination may also be due in part to the fact that the destination does not rest within the 212 area code.
2.) Get cultured
I have always been a connoisseur of the arts. From theater to museums, I appreciate an afternoon spent exploring the never-ending hallways of an art exhibition. Equipped with my student id, I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art and Fotografiska at discounted prices.
Without a price tag standing in the way, I explored many “high culture” locations that were utterly remarkable. However, “culture” doesn’t start and end in a museum. Oftentimes, “culture” starts with murals on the street and buskers singing their songs to passersby. With such a rich and vibrant street life, I found these murals and performances to be oftentimes more impactful than a 500 year old painting behind glass.
And don’t get me started on the state of cinema in New York City. Between 35mm screenings of “North by Northwest” and “To Be or Not to Be” at Lincoln Center and “L’Avventura” and “The Outsiders” at Metrograph, I saw more films projected on print in two months than I have in my entire life.
3.) Do things for the sake of your own enjoyment
Recently, I have adopted the mantra, “To be the best version of yourself for others, you have to be the best version of yourself for yourself and by yourself. Only when you are truly alone can you discern who you are at your core.” The skill of enjoying one’s solitude takes time but the benefits are worth the wait.
Now, I am a proponent of doing things alone. While I enjoy endeavors in the company of others, I have found a deeper appreciation for engaging in activities alone. In the mornings, I would go to matinee performances of Broadway shows or take long walks around Central Park with my thoughts keeping me company. These activities were so enjoyable because I followed my own schedule and did not need to worry about the small details that often occur when planning a group activity.
These solo activities also heightened my enjoyment when I made plans with friends since it reinforced my new mantra. I felt comfortable being myself, hence I felt comfortable being unapologetically myself with other people.
I have been back in Ohio for a month now and I have loved being able to see all my family and friends. My awesome New York stories have already produced a copious amount of laughs and as I continue into my senior year and beyond, I will never forget the lessons learned from the summer of 2024.
