The Beauty in the City

After an awesome six days in New York City, I wanted to share my experiences, high lighting the beauty of the city and some of the adventures I experienced. Here is a recap of what I did, how it made me feel, and the beauty of it all:

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards:
My main reason for traveling to New York this summer was for the Scholastic Art and Writing awards (www.artandwriting.org). My piece was a personal column titled “Underneath the wig” and I received a medal at the world famous Carnegie Hall!

Carnegie Hall was breathtaking. Emotion flooded me during the ceremony because I realized I was receiving an award at Carnegie Hall, a place famous for the arts. It was a beautiful experience.

The reason I am sharing this part of the journey is to show that anything is possible. I never thought I would be sitting in Carnegie Hall receiving a national award for my writing, but once I submitted my work, these doors that were once closed, opened. That’s the thing about New York: Opportunity can be found on every avenue.

I also learned how important it is to get to know the people surrounding you. With some of the best artists in the nation around me, I met people who carried valuable insights. I had to step out of my comfort zone to approach them, but it wasn’t a decision I regretted. Each person I met was talented and passionate. When in New York City, your accomplishments seem more magical than ever before.

Times Square:
As cliché of a tourist attraction this may seem, I was drawn to the liveliness of this part of New York. At every corner, there were people, tourists, from all around the world. People snapped pictures, smiled and enjoyed their vacation time with their families.

What I loved most about this part of the city was that everyone from every culture united. People from all around the world stood amongst the glowing lights, taking in the overwhelming beauty of the city. Everyone had this energy within them, letting their surroundings inspire them. It was truly a beautiful site.

Shopping:
This is what every girl dreams to do when in New York City. The dream was well worth the wait. New York provided me with everything from clothes I could never afford but loved to look at to purses and shoes laid out in the street. It was an adventure.

Concert in Central Park:
Every year, a multitude of concerts are held in Central Park. During my visit, one of my favorite artists, who inspired me to go without my wig, happened to be playing. Demi Lovato put on a rocking show. I met new friends and we held hands during her emotional performance.

On that note, central park is breathtaking. The bike trails, the joggers, the trees. It is the ideal place to unwind and relax after a busy day in the city. The street vendors can get you a cold ice-cream cone during the summer and during the winter a serving of roasted cashews. I miss it already!

I could go on and on about the things that I did while in New York (this was only a short, SHORT recap) but I’ll stop here. Wherever your journey takes you in the future, find joy in it. Even when you’re on the plane, in the subway, or just sitting in a restaurant, appreciate everything around you. Beauty is everywhere! Find it. Appreciate it. And I promise, eventually you’ll fall in love with it.