New York Minute, Ann Arbor Hour
November 17, 2023
Writer: Cameron Bell
Editor: Chava Makman
Many dream of growing up in New York City, and I feel grateful that I had the opportunity to do so. It is truly the greatest place on the planet, all bias aside, and the only place I hope to ever call home in the future. With that being said, the city can be overwhelming. When growing up there, the fast paced New York lifestyle becomes apparent from early on. I can remember always wanting to be and feel older. Having an older sister further emphasized this feeling as I would see her and her friends ingraining themselves into New York City culture and wish I could do the same. From the striking (and slightly concerning) age of 11, I was using public transportation and walking to and from friends' houses without adult supervision. This feeling was exhilarating. Every time I was able to cross off a milestone—such as buying a fake ID or getting into a club—I felt alive and mature. In the moment, I felt like that was what I was supposed to be doing as a kid from New York, but as I reflect on it now, I recognize that perhaps we grew up too quickly in that environment.
This normalcy around starting to act like an adult when you were just a kid now makes me feel like I missed out on what could have been. By this, I mean that a part of me knows I missed out on a part of my childhood that I wish I could have back. Seeing kids play on the streets in Michigan, or being a camp counselor this summer for children, makes me wish I had slowed down as a child and embraced the privilege of innocence and naivety that is held at a young age instead of desiring maturity and sophistication. Although there is nothing I can do to turn back time, moving to Ann Arbor for college has restored a sense of youth and of overall mental wellness in me, and has taught me how to appreciate my early 20’s and focus on the present for what it is.
There are certain things here such as going on long walks in the fall around campus with my friends, attending a hockey game, and going to the cider mill that have given me the opportunity to fully live in the moment and enjoy my surroundings for what they are. This mindset has made me feel more in my body and more grounded. Instead of constantly thinking about what is next, I have begun cherishing the time I have with the people around me who are sharing similar experiences to my own as we are all navigating college life here in Ann Arbor. Being here and coming to this realization about city life, I have been able to restore a sense of happiness not felt since my early childhood years. Whether this is through appreciating that pumpkin chai latte on State Street I get after class on Thursdays or through coming home to my roommate to watch Gossip Girl together, I am forever grateful that I have my pocket of peace in Michigan.
Image: Julia Bonanno
