I have always been a huge fan of Gossip Girl. I may have even called it a cinematic masterpiece because I couldn't find a better fitting word to describe this show. Constantly restarting the series after I finish it, I could quote my favorite episodes. My favorite characters, have always been Chuck and Blair. The toxic but iconic power couple. Blair, always knowing what she wanted and going for it. Chuck, never letting an obstacle stand in his way. These characters, of course, always had their moments but to me, they were perfect and I almost looked up to them.
I have always been in love with the city and when I moved here for my first year of college I told myself, "okay, let's let this inner Blair Waldorf shine" Now, sitting in my dorm room it has come to my attention, that I am no Blair Waldorf, but I am instead, Dan Humphrey. I for one have never thought to myself while watching Gossip Girl that I would want to be Dan Humphrey from Brooklyn. I don't think I have ever met anyone that favorited Dan Humphrey. He was always just the really annoying guy trying to make it in New York. Well, guess what, I am the really annoying trying to make it in New York.
Moving to the city was definitely a lifestyle change. I'm not just talking about learning how to take the subway and finding the best coffee shops. I'm talking about the people that surrounded me. I've grown up in a single parent household in the lower middle class. I have never considered myself nor my family to ever be struggling and I used to think to work for certain things were normal. Most of my friends came from single-parent homes and were also middle class. After the first week of school, I remember calling my mother and explaining to her that I felt a type of discomfort being around so many people that had so much money to flaunt. They all would speak on their extravagant vacations while all I could think about was how I spent every possible opportunity working. Of course, there is nothing wrong with either of those things, but in those moments I was definitely feeling outsider Humphrey vibes.
Although those people may have a little bit more of an expensive lifestyle than I, we all ended up in the same place with a common goal. We all wanted the same thing, to get a degree and make something of ourselves.
Dan Humphrey will never be my favorite but I definitely see where he's coming from on certain situations. Humphrey only wanted the best for himself. He kept putting in the work to get what he wanted even though nothing ever worked in his favor. We all have a little Dan Humphrey in us. The dreamer of conquering all things the city has to throw at him.
