I landed at JFK on July 5th, 2012 at 6:30 am. The housing office for NYU’s Palladium complex wasn't slated to open for another few hours. So I sat there. Alone in the airport. Waiting for the appropriate amount of time to begin my trek into the belly of the beast.

Desperate to fit in, I tucked away my trademark smile and tried the hardened New York expression that I’d seen in countless films on for size. I figured the key to not being perceived as an outsider was to do my best at not looking approachable. And believe you me, it worked.

After reading an hour’s worth of material on my smart phone, I hopped into a taxi and directed the driver to Union Square. Upon my arrival, it was already over 100 degrees and I was greeted by a swarm of striking ConEd employees. The security guard at the front desk quickly assured me that the AC in my room would be on full blast.

“It’d be horrible PR if they roasted a bunch of college kids,” he said emphatically.

“Damn,” I thought to myself. “This is college all over again.”

And then there I was. I tossed my bags down on the tiniest bed that I’d ever seen and proceeded to ponder what the hell I was doing in New York. I actually got a sense of comfort from knowing that there was a Chipotle across the street. I was reaching for some semblance of familiarity. So for my first weekend, I did nothing more than surf the web, crank up my AC and make quick dashes across the street to grab burrito bowls. I was content with never going on any indefinite trips out into the oppressive humidity of New York City.

During those days of naivete, I had no clue what I was up against and the many ways in which New York would change me.

What New York Is

Over my 2 years in NYC, I learned how to navigate the world’s largest adult playground. Millions of Type A personalities frequenting establishments that seldom close and spending amounts of money that only a fraction of them should have been spending.

New York is a place where you go to drown in culture and avarice. The things that I grew to love about the city are precisely the things that made the city so difficult to love. A congested grid filled with crazy cab drivers, brazen pedestrians, beautiful women, powerful — and at times, insecure — men, and everything else in between.

New York is the perfect antidote for those cursed with becoming the big fish in comparatively small ponds. After being thrown into the circus, you instantly find those characteristics that made you feel special before arriving become dulled. You might be beautiful, but there’s always someone more beautiful than you. You might be smart, but there’s always someone smarter than you. You might party hard, but you can rest assured that there will always be someone in NYC capable of partying harder than you.

This relegation to normalcy pushes people to work/try harder. Forever striving to regain that sense of exceptionalism that NY so readily strips you of. And because of this, even the most pedestrian of activities become a challenge. People push themselves to the brink, if only for the purpose of not becoming invisible in a city filled with stars.

Getting a job. Running an errand. Finding love. Making friends. Staying focused on school work. You name it and I can almost guarantee you that it’s more difficult to do in NYC.

Instead of being defined by some skill or trait that you believe paved your way to NY, the city find ways to mark your uniqueness by amplifying other elements of your personality. Maybe you’re the caring person. Maybe love hanging out with you because of your warm and funny personality. Maybe you’re the person that’s good at mediating conflict. Or, maybe you’re the person that’s capable of seeing beyond the veneer of bullshit that so many are blinded by.

And that’s exactly what so many transplants learn after pouring into New York City. Almost a rite of passage for upwardly mobile yuppies that are rapidly gentrifying the city’s 5 boroughs, one can quickly assess their ability to thrive in such an environment. Following the words of Hov, “if you can make it [in NYC], you can make it anywhere.” These words ring true in daily life in The Big Apple, which has been known to break a few unsuspecting souls along the way.

Based on my calculations, I completed my journey through the gauntlet and came out bigger, better and stronger because of it.

Beyond the harsh realities of the city, such as erupting in sweat on the subway during a humid Summer day, the city holds a gentler side that so many of us romanticize about. It is that side of the city that a countless number of amazing friends in NYC helped me to discover and explore. To them I am thankful for the role they played in helping me fall in love with the (2nd) greatest city on the face of the planet.

Winding Down My Stay in NYC

My final week is NYC was an odd one. On the heels of my trip to Nashville, I spent the better part of the week packing and tidying up in advance of my replacement’s arrival at my apartment in Brooklyn. Periodically, I’d look out the window and stare into the gloomy skies. It rained off and on. The skies were painfully gray. It was over 80 degrees outside. There was even a thunderstorm that erupted right as I boarded my flight at JFK.

A little part of me wanted to believe that the city was weeping because of my departure. Ha.

Beyond the gloomy weather, I was fortunate to spend time with some of the folks that were most integral to my experience on the East Coast. After May 22nd came and went, and my graduation festivities were all over, it all went by so quickly. I had plans of catching more Broadway shows, strolling around Central Park, taking more pictures of the Empire State Building and more. But, I didn't really get an opportunity to do any of that. Instead, I spent my last days embracing the ability to walk around the city taking in the culture. To pop into my bodega after midnight and grab a quick bite to eat. To swipe into the subway and just ride. Wherever I wanted to go.

I tried my best not to say goodbye to New York. I guess part of me wanted to leave the door open to a possible return to the Big Apple. If presented with the opportunity, it’s most certainly something I wouldn't rule out. But deep down inside I was afraid that my NYC love story is simply a short chapter not to be revisited. I guess that remains to be seen.

After 2 years in NYC, I can without question say that I am a more confident individual. Hardened by the elements (Summer, Sandy, Nemo, Summer, The 2013-2014 Winter from Hell), I’ve surprisingly returned to California feeling refreshed and renewed. As I sit on the doorsteps of my return the working world, I can’t help but to step back in awe of the events that have transpired over the past 24 months. Every peak and every valley. I wouldn't trade a moment.

Although I may be gone, New York, you’ll always have a piece of my heart.

“The I Love You” Roll Call

Brian Galgay and Craig Wilson — thank you for the KCC experience; Taylor Davidson — thank you for being the most incredible boss/mentor/friend I could have ever asked for; Doc Dean — thanks for teaching me have to live and party in NYC; InSITE Family — thank you for the most amazing learning experience alongside some of the most impressive individuals I've ever met and the honor of doing shots with Tumposky; Richard and Jayonna — thank you for rescuing me from Hurricane Sandy and then subsequently getting the hell out of NYC!; Andrew Dolan, Sarah Smith and Liz Neary — thanks for helping me survive the Max Brenner experience; Andrew and Mike — thanks for being my bear counterparts during an amazing trip to Iceland; Lauren Sanders — thanks for being the most awesome dinner date a guy could ask for; BWats, AGrant, Alexis and Eddie — thanks for sharing the One Month Rails Experience with me and becoming the community that I so desperately needed outside of NYU; Shannon, Brandon, Dean, Jason, Adrea, Vic, Obinna, Maya, Jenny, Paul, Tristan, Nubia, Krystal etc. — thanks for being my family and forgiving me for going AWOL periodically; Salina — thank you for taking my NY experience by storm and fighting with me the entire time; Byron — thank you for being the most amazing, generous roommate a guy could ask for; Thomas — thank you for helping me survive the LES; Turchese — thank you for being the love of my life ;); Renee, Akshay and Ben — thanks for allowing me to run with team High Peaks!; Camille — thanks for the beautiful send off; Maria — thanks for the good run; Jasmine — thank you for the random adventures including ?uestlove’s chicken extravaganza; and to all those others that I’ve forgotten — blame it on my head, not my heart. I love all y’all!