As much as I’m loving life at college, every now and then I miss home. When I think of the things I miss, the list isn’t horribly long. I miss my friends and family. I miss my sister and my bed. I miss Jersey bagels and home-cooked meals. But perhaps most of all, I miss New York City.

I regret not taking advantage of the city more during my time in NJ. I didn’t realize what a luxury it was to be 45 minutes from the most incredible place I know. Some people may say it’s overcrowded, or dangerous, or dirty, but they just don’t understand the magic of the city.

I miss the thrill. The thrill of finding a casting notice online and hopping on a bus to audition for a TV show; this is something Virginia just can’t supply me with. I miss the thrill of finding a soundtrack for a new Broadway show then buying a ticket and going in for the day with my best friends to see Dear Evan Hansen, or Laura Osnes, or Jeremy Jordan, or Something Rotten!

I miss the smell of walnuts from street vendors and the feeling that I always need to hold my satchel close, just in case -- I never fear theft in Charlottesville. Perhaps that’s what allures me to this beautiful city. The fact that anything can happen and I do absolutely anything.

The possibilities there are endless. In just two years, NYC has given me a production's assistant job at an off-Broadway theater, my first paid acting role, several Broadway shows for low prices, incredible food, including cookie dough and mini cupcakes, senior ditch day, and memories I’ll never forget.

And it’s not just theater geeks like me that the city appeals to. Everyone enjoys it and flocks to the beautifully diverse place. So many different people in such a small area is truly incredible. My friends and I can go for dinner on a Saturday night. Families go ice skating in Central Park or to The Rockettes. Schools tour the incredible art museums. Couples can go canoeing in central park and children can go to the zoo. There are so many things to do and experience, even the subway is exciting.

When I left for school, I didn’t think I’d miss NYC this much. I’m genuinely surprised at how badly I want to sit on a bus for 45 minutes next to a random person only to walk through a crowded city, but there’s nothing I’d like more than seeing the Times Square billboards and commercial screens right now. There’s nothing like New York City, and I’m definitely excited to spend a day in my favorite place as soon as I get home.