As I head back to Boston for the second semester of my junior year in college, I find myself wishing for one major change in my life. For the first two years, my friends and I spent much of our free time together shopping, eating, and going back out to do more shopping. Now, retail therapy is often good for the mind–maybe not for the wallet–though I find myself at a serious crossroads. I watch as dozens of friends and various other acquaintances head across the world for study abroad programs, and as a student at my conservatory program, this simply is not an option for applicable credit.
Along with a few others, I started trying to convince my friends that we should spend that money on real experiences, rather than the same things we easily had become accustomed to. Eating out may certainly be an experience–I can surely attest to that–but I wanted something more…to live to the fullest. Save ten of your twenty dollar meal and put it towards something worthy of spending. Ditch the sixth pair of black pants and put your money to use–real use. Especially in a city such as Boston, where there are copious amounts of activities and events to attend, start saving. The coffee that you buy at Starbucks every single day may quickly turn into your next Spring Break trip. Do the math and you will see. I am often hypocritical, because I love a new sweater and those trending boots you see online, but I find more and more the things that do in fact matter most.
By October of 2017, two of my friends and I had decided on a trip to NYC for Columbus Day weekend. We hopped onto one of the earliest morning busses to get the most out of our first day together. With help from friends and mutual friends we found places to stay and stash our belongings while we toured the city, giving us extra time together and money to play with. As college students, we do our best to save, and within our budgets we still were able to see two live performances at the Metropolitan Opera House, went to the Natural History museum, window shopped, walked all over the city (yes, part of that was getting on the wrong subway line), eating at favorite hotspots, as well as almost missing our bus back to Boston. Most of all, we were together, making memories that will last a lifetime.
It is these kinds of experiences that we will keep with us forever. We probably won’t remember what we ate for every meal, with the exception of maybe a few things, but it is the time that we spent together, continuing to get to know each other even better, which none of us probably thought possible. It is surprising, exhilarating and fresh. As I head back, I find myself resolving to experience more, making the most out of my years in Boston with the incredible friends I have made. This summer, I will travel more and capture the moments, but not allow today’s media focus to cloud my time with the people I will remember for the rest of my life.